Troopers And Others Honored For Traffic Safety: CDOT

From CDOT: Today the Colorado Department of Transportation recognized 33 individual law enforcement officers and 19 agencies across the state as Traffic Safety Champions. The annual event focused on law enforcement efforts to reduce impaired driving and increase the use of seat belts. Agencies were also recognized for their work on distracted driving, speed, and child passenger safety.

Awards were presented to individuals from the Colorado State Patrol, Sheriff Offices and Police Departments across Colorado. A full list of the award winners is provided below.

The event was held at the Wellshire Events Center in Denver and 11am this morning.

A Traffic Safety Champion is an individual that shows outstanding support for impaired driving or occupant protection enforcement, according to CDOT. This can be demonstrated by the number of citations written or arrests made during the established enforcement periods throughout the year. It can also be demonstrated by drug recognition expert activity, high visibility enforcement tactics and other related activities.

"The officers recognized today are taking steps to make positive changes in their communities to keep citizens safe and enhance their quality of life,” said Darrell Lingk, Director of the CDOT’s Office of Transportation Safety. “They are truly some of our finest public servants because they go above and beyond to enhance traffic safety and serve without recognition.”

The CDOT Highway Safety Office provides funding to Colorado law enforcement for impaired driving and seat belt enforcement, education and awareness campaigns. The Heat Is On campaign runs throughout the year with 14 specific high visibility impaired driving enforcement periods centered on national holidays and large public events. Enforcement periods can include sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols and additional law enforcement on duty dedicated to impaired driving enforcement. More details about the campaign, including impaired driving enforcement plans, arrest totals and safety tips can be found at HeatIsOnColorado.com.

In 2016, seat belts saved an estimated 200 lives in Colorado. An additional 60 lives could have been saved if all unrestrained passenger vehicle occupants involved in fatal crashes had been properly restrained. There are three high visibility CIOT enforcement periods that take place each year in Colorado. For more information about seat belt safety and enforcement citation numbers, visit SeatBeltsColorado.com.

The 2018 Traffic Safety Champions are:

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