State Patrol releases data on marijuana-related DUI citations in 2014

The Colorado State Patrol says that marijuana was involved in 12.2% of the citations it issued for driving under the influence in 2014.

The chief of the state patrol, Colonel Scott Hernandez, ordered the specific tracking of marijuana related citations last year after the recreational use of marijuana became legal.

The following data was released on January 29, 2015.

5,546 citations were issued for DUI/DUID driving actions.
354 citations were issued for DUID driving actions where marijuana was the only indicator. 674 citations were issued for DUI/DUID driving actions were marijuana was one of the indicators.
The 12 month average for citations related to marijuana was 12.2% of the total DUI/DUID citations. January, April, and December were the three highest months for citations involving marijuana usage as a percentage of the overall DUI/DUID citations issued.
75% of the 2014 DUI/DUID citations issued were the result of proactive motorist contacts.

“Clearly this arrest data underscores the need for CDOT’s Drive High, Get a DUI campaign in 2015,” says Amy Ford, CDOT spokesperson. A ?CDOT study last year found that 43% of marijuana consumers in Colorado said it was okay to drive high. After our education campaign, a ?new ?CDOT ?study showed that 21% of recreational marijuana consumers ?still didn’t know you can get a DUI and 57% of those who used marijuana drove within 2 hours after consuming it. “We won’t be satisfied until everyone in Colorado takes driving high seriously so the need for awareness and education is paramount,” says Ford.