Colorado Department of Transportation, Colorado State Patrol and 98 local law-enforcement agencies will conduct a statewide “Heat Is On” DUI blitz through July 5 to keep impaired drivers off Colorado roads during the Fourth of July festivities.

The recent summer DUI enforcement period, conducted June 16-26, resulted in 435 arrests for impaired driving, and last year’s Fourth of July enforcement period resulted in 312.

Summer months have the highest numbers of road fatalities involving impaired drivers. Last year, there were 21 in June, 22 in July and 22 in August, which accounted for 31 percent of all road fatalities in the state during 2016.

“More vehicles tend to be on the roads during the summer, especially during the Fourth of July weekend, and that unfortunately means more impaired drivers,” Darrell Lingk, director of the CDOT office of transportation safety, said in a statement. “Too often people think they are fine to drive after a couple drinks but often they are not. If someone is impaired to the slightest degree, they can be arrested.”

First-time DUI offenders can be punished with up to one year in jail, license suspension and steep fines. Penalties increase for repeat offenders.

The Fourth of July enforcement is the eighth “Heat Is On” blitz of the 14 to be conducted this year.

For more information and tips for staying safe on the road, visit www.heatisoncolorado.com.

fstone@durangoherald.com