DENVER (KDVR) — The Colorado Department of Transportation will support the Colorado State Patrol and 51 local law enforcement agencies for the "Heat is on Fourth of July" DUI enforcement period, according to a press release from CDOT on Tuesday.

CDOT said that the enforcement period will start on July 2 and end on July 7.

Travelers may see saturation patrols, sobriety checkpoints and additional law enforcement officers on duty.

The DUI enforcement period is being used to combat the "100 Deadliest Days of Summer," the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day, when Colorado law enforcement sees a notable increase in traffic deaths.

CDOT said that during the 100 days, an average of one in three deaths involves an impaired driver.

In 2024, July had the most traffic deaths, 28, out of any month for the entire year. Since 2019, July has been in the top three highest months for crashes involving impairment, according to CDOT.

There have been 82 impaired driving-related deaths in 2025 so far, which is a 15% decrease from the same point in 2024.

“Avoid seeing red and blue lights in your rearview mirror this holiday weekend. Make a plan for your Fourth of July festivities and avoid impaired driving at all costs,” said Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of CSP. “A DUI or impaired driving crash is life-altering. Never put yourself or others at risk.”

CDOT said that if planning to host a party on the weekend of the Fourth of July, follow steps, including:

• Collect your guests’ car keys upon arrival. Encourage them to designate a sober driver or use a ride-sharing service, taxi or public transportation
• Call a friend or family member for a guest if they have been drinking or offer them a place to stay if a sober ride home is unavailable
• Stop serving alcohol at least two hours before the party is over. Provide plenty of food and non-alcoholic drink options
• Be persistent if a guest is intoxicated and planning to drive home. Explain that you care about their safety and cannot let them get behind the wheel
• Remember that as a host, you could be held liable if a guest you served alcohol to gets in a crash

“Impaired driving is not only illegal and can result in a DUI, but it can also be deadly,” said CDOT’s Office of Transportation Safety Director Darrell Lingk. “Since 2019, 31 people have been killed in crashes involving impaired drivers during the Independence Day holiday period. Prioritize safety this Fourth of July weekend and put down the keys if you’ve been drinking. You could save a life — including your own.”

CDOT partnered with the Wilhite Law Firm, which is offering reimbursement credits for Uber and Lyft as part of the firm's Holiday Rideshare Program. The program will cover a total of $20 for a one-way ride from July 3 to July 6.

The recent Summer Blitz DUI enforcement period saw 236 arrests across 82 participating agencies.