DENVER -
Governor Bill Ritter started his day Wednesday saying he would cut funding for DUI checkpoints to help close a $320 million budget shortfall. But Wednesday night, he had a change of heart.
Ritter had proposed cutting the $1.4 million dollars paid to 56 police agencies this year to cover the overtime of the "Heat is On" crackdowns on holiday weekends.
Critics, including, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, came out against it saying the savings would come at the cost of more lost lives.
"Alcohol-related crashes will likely be on the rise. Preventable deaths and injuries will be on the rise in Colorado. And I think Gov. Ritter will have to answer to that," says MADD Director Emily Tompkins.
Tompkins says the checkpoints have been working. Before Law Enforcement Assistance Funding in 1981, Colorado set an all-time record for alcohol-related crash fatalities with 468 people killed. Last year, she says, that number dropped to 218 deaths.
The governor's office had said it has no choice under the state constitution but to balance the budget. It has made more than 100 cuts, reducing spending by 10.5% and eliminating more than 300 state jobs. It also said the State Patrol would remain unaffected--with its main priority remaining DUI enforcement.
But Wednesday night, Ritter's office released a press release saying the community and law enforcment had raised legitimate public safety concerns. So now, Ritter has directed that funding for these high-visibility DUI enforcement efforts continue through the first of the year, including enforcement campaigns for Labor Day Weekend, Halloween, the December holiday season and New Year's.
Originally, that funding would have ended after Labor Day weekend.
Ritter's office also says "it will work with the legislature to determine next steps for the enforcement program while also ensuring the state budget remains balanced."
"We maintain our commitment to public safety and to do what we can to minimize the dangers of drunk driving," says Evan Dreyer, Ritter spokesman.
MADD says studies show for every dollar spent on checkpoints and high-visibility enforcement there is a return of $6 to $23 in savings to society from crashes, medical bills and court cases.
Legislators still have to approve the cut when they return to work in January. Several metro police agencies, including Denver, say without funding they won't do as many checkpoints. But they will still go aggressively after drunk drivers using other methods.
Ritter had proposed cutting the $1.4 million dollars paid to 56 police agencies this year to cover the overtime of the "Heat is On" crackdowns on holiday weekends.
Critics, including, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, came out against it saying the savings would come at the cost of more lost lives.
"Alcohol-related crashes will likely be on the rise. Preventable deaths and injuries will be on the rise in Colorado. And I think Gov. Ritter will have to answer to that," says MADD Director Emily Tompkins.
Tompkins says the checkpoints have been working. Before Law Enforcement Assistance Funding in 1981, Colorado set an all-time record for alcohol-related crash fatalities with 468 people killed. Last year, she says, that number dropped to 218 deaths.
The governor's office had said it has no choice under the state constitution but to balance the budget. It has made more than 100 cuts, reducing spending by 10.5% and eliminating more than 300 state jobs. It also said the State Patrol would remain unaffected--with its main priority remaining DUI enforcement.
But Wednesday night, Ritter's office released a press release saying the community and law enforcment had raised legitimate public safety concerns. So now, Ritter has directed that funding for these high-visibility DUI enforcement efforts continue through the first of the year, including enforcement campaigns for Labor Day Weekend, Halloween, the December holiday season and New Year's.
Originally, that funding would have ended after Labor Day weekend.
Ritter's office also says "it will work with the legislature to determine next steps for the enforcement program while also ensuring the state budget remains balanced."
"We maintain our commitment to public safety and to do what we can to minimize the dangers of drunk driving," says Evan Dreyer, Ritter spokesman.
MADD says studies show for every dollar spent on checkpoints and high-visibility enforcement there is a return of $6 to $23 in savings to society from crashes, medical bills and court cases.
Legislators still have to approve the cut when they return to work in January. Several metro police agencies, including Denver, say without funding they won't do as many checkpoints. But they will still go aggressively after drunk drivers using other methods.
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