DUI Statistics in Colorado
Every year, we hear about DUI statistics in Colorado. Driving under the influence (DUI) remains a major concern across the US, and many countries worldwide have long since put laws in place to attempt to address this issue.
Colorado has gone a step further than some states by incorporating two levels into its DUI laws.
You can be charged with a DUI when “you are substantially incapable” of operating a vehicle after consuming alcohol, drugs, or prescription medications, or if your blood alcohol content (BAC) is at or above .08” (http://www.noduicolorado.org/dui-stats-by-county/#.WVhNrLRrjlJ).
You can also be charged with Driving While Ability Impaired (DWAI). You may be charged with DWAI when “your ability is impaired to the slightest degree” by alcohol, drugs or even prescription medications, or if your blood alcohol content (BAC) is found to be in excess of .05 but less than .08” (http://www.noduicolorado.org/dui-stats-by-county/#.WVhNrLRrjlJ ).
Unfortunately, while there has been a decline in road fatalities in Colorado for over a decade, 2016 was Colorado’s deadliest year for road fatalities since 2008. While this spike is a result of several factors, undoubtedly one contributing factor remains DUI — which caused 32% of road fatalities in the previous year.
To examine the issues surrounding DUI statistics in Colorado, it is useful to look at DUI related statistics. Two sets of DUI statistics are important — the number of residents with DUI/DWAI charges filed against them and the average BAC level of these people.
For a more detailed examination, we will give the statistics for Colorado’s 64 counties for the entire year of 2016 which are the most up to date statistics available (statistic source: ADDSCODS 2016 Judicial District Statistics 2016, sourced from http://www.noduicolorado.org/dui-stats-by-county/#.WVhNrLRrjlJ ).
DUI STATS in First 20 Counties (by population)
In Denver County, the largest county by population, the number of residents with DUI/DWAI charges (No. residents) was 2,612 residents, and the Average BAC level (Avg. BAC) was 0.164. In El Paso County, the second largest country by population, the stats were: No. residents: 2,220 residents, Avg. BAC: 0.168. The statistics for the next 18 most populated counties were as follows:
| County | Number of Residents Charged with DUI/DWAI | Average BAC level |
| Arapahoe County | 2,520 | 0.164 |
| Jefferson County | 1,892 | 0.174 |
| Adams County | 2312 | 0.163 |
| Larimer County | 1,460 | 0.156 |
| Douglas County | 700 | 0.164 |
| Boulder County | 1,117 | 0.157 |
| Weld County | 1,067 | 0.162 |
| Pueblo County | 559 | 0.211 |
| Mesa County | 683 | 0.171 |
| Broomfield County | 175 | 0.163 |
| Garfield County | 497 | 0.155 |
| La Plata County | 502 | 0.160 |
| Eagle County | 430 | 0.150 |
| Fremont County | 176 | 0.157 |
| Montrose County | 157 | 0.141 |
| Delta County | 142 | 0.141 |
| Summit County | 383 | 0.150 |
| Morgan County | 112 | 0.154 |
DUI STATS in Counties 21-40 by population
The statistics for the next 18 counties are given below:
| County | Number of Residents Charged with DUI/DWAI | Average BAC level |
| Routt County | 156 | 0.164 |
| Teller County | 170 | 0.168 |
| Logan County | 68 | 0.154 |
| Chaffee County | 80 | 0.157 |
| Otero County | 66 | 0.146 |
| Pitkin County | 127 | 0.155 |
| Park County | 71 | 0.157 |
| Alamosa County | 144 | 0.145 |
| Gunnison County | 145 | 0.141 |
| Grand County | 165 | 0.164 |
| Las Animas County | 79 | 0.155 |
| Moffat County | 84 | 0.164 |
| Archuleta County | 79 | 0.160 |
| Prowers County | 114 | 0.142 |
| Rio Grande County | 56 | 0.145 |
| Yuma County | 39 | 0.154 |
| Clear Creek County | 95 | 0.150 |
| Kit Carson County | 34 | 0.154 |
DUI STATS in Counties 41-60 (by population)
| County | Number of Residents Charged with DUI/DWI | Average BAC level |
| Conejos County: | 33 | 0.145 |
| San Miguel County: | 76 | 0.141 |
| Lake County: | 55 | 0.150 |
| Huerfano County: | 58 | 0.155 |
| Rio Blanco County: | 39 | 0.155 |
| Saguache County: | 13 | 0.145 |
| Gilpin County: | 105 | 0.174 |
| Bent County: | 11 | 0.146 |
| Crowley County: | 12 | 0.146 |
| Lincoln County: | 23 | 0.164 |
| Washington County: | 27 | 0.154 |
| Ouray County: | 33 | 0.141 |
| Custer County: | 17 | 0.157 |
| Phillips County: | 9 | 0.154 |
| Costilla County: | 21 | 0.145 |
| Baca County: | 9 | 0.142 |
| Sedgwick County: | 9 | 0.154 |
| Dolores County: | 11 | 0.151 |
| Cheyenne County: | 20 | 0.142 |
| Kiowa County: | 3 | 0.142 |
DUI STATS in 4 Least Populated Counties
| County | Number of Residents Charged with DUI/DWAI | Average BAC level |
| Jackson County: | 4 | 0.156 |
| Hinsdale County: | 3 | 0.141 |
| Mineral County: | 2 | 0.145 |
| San Juan County: | 4 | 0.160 |
A quick glance at these statistics demonstrates that, just like the rest of the US, the Centennial state has not escaped the issue of driving under the influence. However, these statistics will provide you the opportunity to stay updated on the extent and development of the issue in Colorado and therefore one step closer to finding new solutions.