Steamboat Springs Police make only one DUI arrest on New Year’s Eve
Steamboat Springs Police made 30 traffic stops and one DUI arrest on New Year’s Eve, according to Police Chief Mark Beckett.
Beckett said patrollers are always busy during the holiday, but police were pleased to see people using alternatives to driving after a night of drinking alcohol.
“I would like to think people were being responsible and using the transit options and alternative modes of transportation that were available to them,” said Beckett.
Unlike Halloween and Fourth of July, celebrating New Year’s Eve in Steamboat Springs is largely confined to private properties rather than public streets, which allows the police department to dedicate more manpower to enforcing traffic laws.
On Tuesday evening, the Steamboat Springs Police Department had six officers patrolling the streets, including two special assignment unit officers dedicated to traffic enforcement specifically.
According to Beckett, drunk driving is an ongoing issue that requires police to remain vigilant.

“DUIs are unfortunately one of the most common criminal violations we see,” said Beckett. “I don’t have any reason to believe it’s getting better, but I also don’t have any reason to think it’s getting worse. I think it’s just kind of status quo, unfortunately.”
In 2023, there were 16,259 DUI arrests made in Colorado, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s Colorado crime statistics. Individuals 25-34 years old were more frequently arrested compared to other age groups.
Of those screened for drugs, 18% of drivers tested positive for multiple substances, most often alcohol in combination with delta-9 THC, according to a report published by the Colorado Division of Criminal Justice.
According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, there were 218 fatalities due to impaired driving in the state in 2023.
Beckett emphasized the importance of having a plan before a night of drinking, such as relying on public transit, ordering a ride or having a designated driver.
“Everyone needs to know that the Steamboat Springs Police Department, Routt County Sheriff’s Office and our Colorado State Patrol partners are all dedicated to DUI enforcement,” said Beckett. “If you get caught driving drunk, you will be arrested.”
The Steamboat Springs Police Department hopes messages about the dangers of drunk driving make an impact on the community, especially around holidays.
“It’s easy to avoid committing this crime,” said Beckett. “I encourage people to enjoy the holidays here – it’s a special place – but be safe and make good choices.”

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