Yesterday, members of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Traffic and Patrol Units conducted a dual early morning and late afternoon/evening traffic enforcement surge targeting speeding and reckless driving across the Pikes Peak region.
During the early morning operation, 98 traffic contacts were made with the community.
- 67 citations were issued, including:
- 58 for speeding (highest speed of 101 mph in a 65 mph zone)
- three for careless driving, including one for failure to move over for an emergency vehicle
- one for reckless driving
- two for expired registration
- one for driving without a license
- and two for no insurance
Deputies encountered drivers with a variety of excuses for speeding and driving recklessly, including:
“Can you make this quick? I’m late for an appointment, and I have a 10-minute cancellation window.”
“I’m in a hurry to get to Walmart.”
“I’m late for work; can you give me a warning? I must get going.” (Driving 71 mph in a 35 mph construction zone)
“Are you really going to write me a ticket? It’s my birthday!”
During the evening operation, deputies concentrated on DUI enforcement, resulting in one DUID and one DUID arrest.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drunk driving crashes increase by as much as 40 percent during Labor Day weekends, making it one of the deadliest holidays to travel.
Additionally, statistics show drunk driving deaths have risen 31 percent over the past decade. Despite public awareness campaigns, thousands of lives are still lost each year due to impaired drivers.
El Paso County Sheriff’s Office deputies remain active across the Pikes Peak region, with DUI enforcement scheduled throughout the weekend, including Sunday night, as part of ongoing efforts to keep the community safe.
“Safety on our roadways is a priority for my deputies,” said El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal. “These enforcement efforts remind drivers- reckless behavior has consequences and help protect everyone on our roads. As we approach a holiday weekend, we urge everyone to plan ahead, designate a sober driver, and make responsible choices behind the wheel.”