Just as St. Patrick dispelled the snakes from Ireland, local law enforcement is gearing up to vanquish drunken drivers this holiday weekend.
Dozens of officers from various law enforcement agencies gathered at Scruffy Murphy’s Irish Pub in Lower Downtown on Thursday to kick off DUI efforts and trumpet the message — “Don’t press your luck!” — when it comes to drinking and driving.
“We’re asking people to just be responsible,” said Lt. Col. Doyle Eicher of the Colorado State Patrol. “Go out, have fun, just have designated drivers. It can take a tragic turn if someone doesn’t do it.”
Throughout the state, 64 agencies will be involved in “Heat Is On” programs, including saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints, from 6 p.m. Friday to 3 a.m. Wednesday.
Five people in Colorado were killed during the 2007 St. Patrick’s celebrations in alcohol-related crashes. No one died last year.
“Our goal is to have the same results as last year,” said Michael Nugent, a spokesman with the Colorado Department of Transportation.
In 2008, the St. Patty’s Day crackdown resulted in 355 DUI arrests statewide. Denver police nabbed 29 DUI suspects, and the State Patrol made 106 arrests.
To help offset drinking and driving, some public transportation companies are offering free rides.
In Boulder, free HOP bus service will be offered from 7 a.m. Tuesday, St. Patrick’s Day, to 3 a.m. Wednesday.
“We encourage people to utilize public transportation,” said John Elliott, owner of Scruffy Murphy’s.
Scruffy’s staff is trained to recognize people who have had too much and to cut them off. Still, anyone who is driving over the holiday weekend should not imbibe a single drop, Elliott said. “One drink is one too many if you get behind a wheel or on a bike,” he said.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com
