The data shows that Pueblo County, which makes up the 10^th Judicial District, currently has the fewest DUI-related court filings per capita for 2017

DENVER, COLORADO—It’s an alarming number. So far this year, 372 DUI-related crashes have resulted in serious injuries or fatalities, according to Colorado State Patrol. With two more months still left in 2017, this number is a two percent increase from the year before. Determined to raise awareness to an old problem that shows no signs of improving, Tiftickjian Law Firm, P.C.’s has released an interactive map to easily pinpoint where the majority of DUI/DWAI arrests and felony charges occur.

“It’s my hope that when others look closely at this map, it will start a conversation on how we might combat DUI using alternative methods. Our current laws aren’t working,” stated Jay Tiftickjian, founding attorney for Tiftickjian Law Firm, P.C. “Funding our state’s mental health system and revising the DUI education and therapy curriculum to fight DUI should be looked at more carefully.”

According to the interactive map (found here), drivers in Clear Creek, Eagle, Lake, and Summit Counties (the 5th Judicial District) are the most likely to find themselves in the hot seat for driving under the influence or while impaired. The district averages 8.78 arrests per 1,000 residents. Drivers in Pueblo County are the least likely to be arrested – with just 2.64 arrests per 1,000 residents of this county.

“The lower those numbers, obviously, the better. We want to see our roads safer, and we applaud the state’s attempt to tackle this nationwide crisis. However, we must do more. Let’s zero in on the problem and address it by thinking outside the box,” stated Tiftickjian. “When you can easily visualize—with the aid of this map— where the problem is, we can work to correct it.”

Below is a ranking of Colorado judicial districts based on the rate of DUI & DWAI court filings per capita in 2017:

 

1. 5^th Judicial District (Clear Creek, Eagle, Lake, and Summit Counties)

More than 100,000 people reside in these four counties. This district has had 884 DUI arrests in 2017, a rate of 8.8 per 1,000 residents. Over nearly a 10-year-period, this amounted to 10 arrests per 1,000 residents. From 2007 to 2016, the district averaged 970.4 DUI/DWAI court filings.

 

2. 9^th Judicial District (Garfield, Pitkin & Rio Blanco Counties)

More than 82,000 people reside in these three counties. This district has had 647 DUI arrests in 2017, a rate of 7.9 per 1,000 residents. Over nearly a 10-year-period, this amounted to 8.9 arrests per 1,000 residents. From 2007 to 2016, the district averaged 702.8 DUI/DWAI court filings.

 

3. 6^th Judicial District (Archeleta, La Plata & San Juan Counties)

Nearly 68,000 people live in these three counties. This district has had 547 DUI arrests in 2017, a rate of 8 per 1,000 residents. Over nearly a 10-year-period, this amounted to 7.7 arrests per 1,000 residents. From 2007 to 2016, the district averaged 501.8 DUI/DWAI court filings.

 

4. 14^th Judicial District (Grand, Moffat & Routt Counties)

Nearly 52,000 people live in these three counties. This district has had 392 arrests in 2017, a rate of 7.6 per 1,000 residents. Over nearly a 10-year-period, this amounted to 9.2 arrests per 1,000 residents. From 2007 to 2016, the district averaged 468.2 DUI/DWAI court filings.

 

5. 22^nd Judicial District (Dolores and Montezuma Counties)

More than 28,000 people call these two counties home. This district has had 196 arrests in 2017, a rate of 7.0 per 1,000 residents. Over nearly a 10-year-period, this amounted to 6.9 arrests per 1,000 residents. From 2007 to 2016, the district has averaged 188.4 DUI/DWAI court filings.

 

6. 3^rd Judicial District (Huerfano and Las Animas Counties)

More than 20,000 people call these two counties home. This district has had 127 arrests in 2017, a rate of 6.2 per 1,000 residents. Over nearly a 10-year-period, this amounted to 8.3 arrests per 1,000 residents. From 2007 to 2016, this district averaged 178.7 DUI/DWAI court filings.

 

7. 7^th Judicial District (Delta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Montrose, Ouray & San Miguel Counties)

More than 100,000 reside in these six counties. This district has had 562 DUI arrests in 2017, a rate of 5.6 per 1,000 residents. Over nearly a 10-year-period, this amounted to 6.2 arrests per 1,000 residents. From 2007 to 2016, the district averaged 610 DUI/DWAI court filings.

 

8. 12^th Judicial District (Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Mineral, Rio Grande & Saguache Counties)

A little more than 46,000 people call these six counties home. This district has had 203 arrests in 2017, a rate of 4.4 per 1,000 residents. Over nearly a 10-year-period, this amounted to 8.4 arrests per 1,000 residents. From 2007 to 2016, this district averaged 390.9 DUI/DWAI court filings.

 

9. 8^th Judicial District (Jackson and Larimer Counties)

More than 334,000 people live in these two counties. This district has had 1,419 arrests in 2017, a rate of 4.2 per 1,000 residents. Over nearly a 10-year-period, this amounted to 6 arrests per 1,000 residents. From 2007 to 2016, the district averaged 1,852.5 DUI/DWAI court filings.

 

10. 15^th Judicial District (Baca, Cheyenne, Kiowa & Powers Counties)

Nearly 19,000 people call these four counties home. This district has had 79 arrests in 2017, a rate of 4.2 per 1,000 residents. Over nearly a 10-year-period, this amounted to 7 arrests per 1,000 residents. From 2007 to 2016, this district has averaged 136.3 DUI/DWAI court filings.

 

11. 17^th Judicial District (Adams and Broomfield Counties)

More than 555,000 people call these two counties home. This district has had 2,267 arrests in 2017, a rate of 4.1 per 1,000 residents. Over nearly a 10-year-period, this amounted to 6 arrests per 1,000 residents. From 2007 to 2016, the district averaged 3,080 DUI/DWAI court filings.

 

12. 11^th Judicial District (Chaffer, Custer, Freemont & Park Counties)

More than 86,000 people call this county home. This district has had 350 arrests in 2017, a rate of 4.1 per 1,000 residents. Over nearly a 10-year-period, this amounted to 4.4 arrests per 1,000 residents. From 2007 to 2016, this district averaged 371.8 DUI/DWAI court filings.

 

13. 19^th Judicial District (Weld County)

Nearly 285,000 people call this county home. This district has had 1,077 arrests in 2017, a rate of 3.8 per 1,000 residents. Over nearly a 10-year-period, this amounted to 5.4 arrests per 1,000 residents. From 2007 to 2016, the district averaged 1,394.2 DUI/DWAI court filings.

 

14. 16^th Judicial District (Bent, Crowley & Otero Counties)

Nearly 30,000 people call these two counties home. This district has had 114 arrests in 2017, a rate of 3.8 per 1,000 residents. Over nearly a 10-year-period, this amounted to 5.4 arrests per 1,000 residents. From 2007 to 2016, the district averaged 163.2 DUI/DWAI court filings.

 

15. 21^st Judicial District (Mesa County)

More than 149,000 people call this county home. This district has had 550 arrests in 2017, a rate of 3.7 per 1,000 residents. Over nearly a 10-year-period, this amounted to 5.5 arrests per 1,000 residents. From 2007 to 2016, the district averaged 796.4 DUI/DWAI court filings.

 

16. 1^st Judicial District (Gilpin and Jefferson Counties)

More than 571,000 people call these two counties home. This district has had 1,987 arrests in 2017, a rate of 3.5 per 1,000 residents. Over nearly a 10-year-period, this amounted to 4.1 arrests per 1,000 residents. From 2007 to 2016, the district averaged 2,240.6 DUI/DWAI court filings.

 

17. 13^th Judicial District (Kit Carson, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington & Yuma Counties)

More than 80,000 people call these counties home. This district has had 269 arrests in 2017, a rate of 3.4 per 1,000 residents. Over nearly a 10-year-period, this amounted to 4.9 arrests per 1,000 residents. From 2007 to 2016, the district averaged 390.8 DUI/DWAI court filings.

 

18. 4^th Judicial District (El Paso & Teller Counties)

More than 700,000 people call these two counties home. This district has had 2,381 arrests in 2017, a rate of 3.4 per 1,000 residents. Over nearly a 10-year-period, this amounted to 4.9 arrests per 1,000 residents. From 2007 to 2016, this district averaged 3,200.9 DUI/DWAI court filings.

 

19. 18^th Judicial District (Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert & Lincoln Counties)

Nearly a million people call these four counties home. This district has had 3,023 arrests in 2017, a rate of 3.1 per 1,000 residents. Over nearly a 10-year-period, this amounted to 4.2 arrests per 1,000 residents. From 2007 to 2016, this district averaged 3,794.1 DUI/DWAI court filings.

 

 

20. 20^th Judicial District (Boulder County)

More than 319,000 people call this county home. This district has had 951 arrests in 2017, a rate of 3.0 per 1,000 residents. Over nearly a 10-year-period, this amounted to 4.9 arrests per 1,000 residents. From 2007 to 2016, the district averaged 1,479.3 DUI/DWAI court filings.

 

21. 2^nd Judicial District (Denver County)

Approximately 683,000 people call this county home. The district has had 1,940 arrests in 2017, a rate of 2.8 per 1,000 residents. Over nearly a 10-year-period, this amounted to 4.9 arrests per 1,000 residents. From 2007 to 2016, the district averaged 3,042.1 DUI/DWAI court filings.

 

22. 10^th Judicial District (Pueblo County)

More than 163,00 people call this one county home. This district has had 432 arrests in 2017, a rate of 2.6 per 1,000 residents. Over nearly a 10-year-period, this amounted to 4.8 arrests per 1,000 residents. From 2007 to 2016, the district averaged 760.2 DUI/DWAI court filings.

 

In August of this year, Colorado took major steps to deter repeat offenders with its new  fourth-strike Felony DUI law. For repeat offenders, this can result in up to a six-year prison sentence and as much as $500,000 in fines. The three offenses leading up to the fourth-strike felony charge can be comprised of both DUI or DWAI convictions.

“Unfortunately, preventing DUI/DWAI offenses is not as simple as filing felony charges against fourth-time offenders. Re-arrest rates for felons sent to prison are at about 40 percent,” stated Tiftickjian. “Evidence shows that the true key to preventing DUI/DWAI recidivism is getting addicts appropriate intervention.”

 

With the creation of this interactive map, Tiftickjian hopes it will prompt not only the state but local municipalities to take a different approach to curbing the problem. To view the interactive map, click here.