For many, Estes Park may be a summer playground, but the Estes Park Police Department doesn’t play around with impaired drivers. Just ask Sgt. Skylar Watson, an officer with the EPPD.
Watson sat down with the Estes Valley Voice for an interview about the incidents of drunk driving arrests in a place where more than 4 million people visit annually to kick back, relax, and have fun. For many, that includes letting loose with liquor. But not behind the wheel.
As the town rolls out the welcome mat for the summer season, the number of impaired driving arrests can be expected to increase, said Watson.
“There is a summertime spike in June, and the numbers in December are very high too,” said Watson, a graduate of Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky, who came to Estes in 2020 from Texas where he had been a state trooper with the Texas Department of Public Safety after serving in the U.S. Navy.
Watson shared some statistics. Over the past three years, EPPD officers have made 100 DUI arrests, with 42 of those just last year. According to Estes Park arrest records released to the media, of the last 22 arrests by the EPPD during the past two months, 7 were for driving while under the influence of alcohol.
As summer unfolds, law enforcement agencies across the country report an increase in arrests for impaired driving. This seasonal trend is due to factors that increase drinking and the risk of driving under the influence: graduations, weddings, summer concerts, festivals, and extended holiday weekends like Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day.
And speaking of elevation, many people don’t understand how the altitude in Estes Park – 7,522 feet above sea level – can influence the effect of alcohol, said Watson.
While elevation does not increase a person’s blood alcohol level, higher elevation can increase the risk of dehydration, exacerbating altitude sickness symptoms. After a drink or two, alcohol can mask or worsen symptoms of altitude sickness, such as dizziness, headache, and nausea. The combination of altitude sickness and alcohol can impair cognitive function, judgment, and reaction time.
Last year, there were 16,212 impaired driving arrests in Colorado, with 5,566 arrests between May and the end of August. There were also 203 motor vehicle deaths involving an impaired driver, and while the age group with the highest number of arrests was individuals aged 25 to 34, more than 1,600 arrests were of drivers 55 and older.
Over the course of his career in law enforcement, most of the people Watson has arrested are younger drivers, but he has also arrested people experiencing a midlife or later life crisis, or older people who do not hold their liquor like they once did.
“Alcohol is a celebratory tool. People drink when they’re happy, but they also drink when they are sad,” said Watson.
The legal limit for alcohol in the bloodstream is 0.08, which means that for every 100 milliliters of blood in the body, there are 0.08 grams of alcohol. Blood alcohol concentration levels, known as a BAC, can be measured by analyzing alcohol levels in breath, blood, or urine samples.
For adult men of average size and weight – 5 feet, 9 inches and about 190 pounds – consuming 4 to 5 standard drinks over two hours can result in a 0.08 limit.
For adult women of average size and weight – 5 feet, 4 inches tall and around 160 pounds – consuming 3 to 4 standard drinks over two hours can also result in a 0.08 limit.
In addition to factors like body weight, BAC levels and the degree of impairment are affected by how long it has been since someone ate and the amount of food they may have consumed, the type of alcohol consumed – such as a malt liquor, wine, or beer – and the rate of consumption. Marijuana use and other drugs also cause impairment in perception, attention, judgment, decision making, and reaction time.
In 2024, 203 people in Colorado were killed in motor vehicle accidents involving an impaired driver who was drunk or high. In perspective, more than one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities involve an impaired driver.
Watson has seen some serious injuries from alcohol-related crashes over the past nine years as an officer, three of which were major injuries where the violator was also the victim.
Estes Park participates in the Colorado Department of Transportation “Heat is On” campaign, a heightened enforcement period for impaired driving. The statewide campaign is one of 16 specific high-visibility impaired driving enforcement periods and involves additional law enforcement, saturation patrols, and sobriety checkpoints. The Memorial Day weekend period began May 16 and extends until June 5.
Watson says when an individual gets a driver’s license in Colorado, they give express consent to provide a biological specimen if a police officer has reasonable suspicion that they are driving under the influence. Refusal to do so can result in a license suspension or other penalties.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving has partnered with Uber for the “Safe Summer” campaign. The initiative aims to prevent impaired driving and keep roads and waterways safe during the “100 deadliest days on the road.” Uber will double-match donations for the MADD campaign through May 31.
MADD offers tips to stay safe this Memorial Day and the whole season:
- Before drinking, plan how you can get home safely. Decide if you will use a rideshare app, designate a sober driver, or take public transportation.
- Don’t drive any vehicle while impaired, including boats, jet skis, golf carts, ATVs, bikes, and cars. Avoid alcohol entirely when operating any vehicle on land or water.
- Always wear a life jacket in a boat, as it is one of the simplest ways to stay safe on the water.
- Plan to ensure a safe ride home when heading to a concert or festival. Go with a group of people who will look out for each other.
- Talk to teens about making safe choices. Parents play a critical role in keeping teens safe. Start the conversation about the dangers of underage drinking, peer pressure, and the importance of making smart choices while driving.
- If you are hosting a party, be proactive. Make sure your guests can get home safely and be sure to offer nonalcoholic drink options. Be prepared to provide a place for guests to crash if needed.
- Drive defensively and report impaired driving. If you see someone driving impaired, call 911.
- Law enforcement will be on high alert. A DUI arrest can be expensive and lead to a suspended license and jail time, or worse.