The Southern Ute Police Department will step up its enforcement on drunken driving for a 20-day period through the Labor Day weekend, the agency recently announced.

From Aug. 21 to Sept. 7, the SUPD will enact a “zero tolerance” policy for drunken driving, in partnership with a wider state and national initiative to reduce the toll from the crime.

Chief Raymond N. Coriz Jr. said in a prepared statement that in 2013, 38 percent of all crash fatalities during the Labor Day weekend involved drunken drivers, claiming 161 lives.

“Too many people think their actions don’t affect anybody else,” Coriz said. “They know it’s illegal. They know it’s wrong. But they do it anyway – they make decisions as if those statistics just can’t happen to them.”

Coriz said motorists should expect to see a greater police presence during the 20-day span. He urged individuals who do drink to chose a preventable measure, such as calling a cab or friend, or taking advantage a new SafeRide mobile app.