DENVER — After a rash of deadly alcohol-related crashes in the metro area in the past week, police agencies are out in force to try to keep everyone safe when driving this St. Patrick’s Day weekend.
Thousands of people are expected Saturday for the St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown, and thousands more come for the party. One of the biggest parties will be at Fado Irish Pub in the LoDo area where many officers will be patrolling the streets.
Denver has one of the biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the country. Early Saturday morning, kids will get to enjoy the parade again while adults will fill the bars.
This #StPatricksDay, plan to wear green, not waste it. Designate a sober driver today, & avoid that costly DUI. #ConsumeResponsibly #Denver
— Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) March 13, 2015
It has been a deadly week for suspected DUI accidents. On March 6, a young man was killed in Aurora by a driver accused of running a red light. On Tuesday, a deadly three-car crash killed two people. Police believe speed and alcohol caused it.
Last year, law enforcement across the state arrested 471 people for driving drunk through the St. Patrick’s Day weekend.
If you get caught with a DUI, you could spend up to a year in jail, pay $1,000 in fines and your insurance premium could rise by more than $800.