Boulder County, Colo. -In 2025, Colorado lost 701 lives in traffic crashes. This total includes 234 deaths lost to impaired driving, an 8.8% increase. According to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation's Colorado Crime Statistics, there were 16,665 DUI cases filed in Colorado in 2025.

We can, and will, prevent lives from being ruined if we eliminate impaired driving.

The District Attorney’s Office strongly supports the efforts of parents and community members to eliminate impaired driving, including for Prom Night and graduation parties. The DA’s Office has been working with After Prom, an organization created by concerned parents and administrators after a series of tragic alcohol- and drug-related crashes claimed the lives of eleven (11) Denver/Boulder Metro area teens in 1995 and reinstated after the tragic deaths on Boulder’s Prom Night in 2022.

After Prom provides a community sponsored, fun evening following the Boulder High and Fairview High Proms. The goal is to provide students a safe and memorable night, without putting themselves and community members at risk of life-altering incidents. Interested community members can learn more: https://fhsbhsafterprom.org/.

Although current law in Colorado provides a very limited sentencing range for juveniles who drive under the influence and cause the death of another person, it is a life-altering event for the juvenile, the victims, and their loved ones.

For that reason, following the fatal crash that ended two lives on Prom Night in 2022, the District Attorney’s Office investigated and prosecuted the adults who were responsible for facilitating the drinking of alcohol by the juvenile, including the two companies that sold fake identification to numerous high school students, the liquor store that regularly sold alcohol to underage persons, the driver of the party bus that allowed students to drink on the party bus, and several parents who aided in underage persons drinking alcohol on Prom Night.

With any traffic fatality involving an impaired juvenile, Boulder County law enforcement and the District Attorney’s Office are committed to investigating and prosecuting the adults who made it possible for the young person to drive under the influence. Adults who aid or abet a juvenile drinking alcohol will be charged with Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, CRS 18-6-701, and Providing Alcohol to Minors, CRS 44-3-901.

The following are some safety reminders for kids and adults:

• Choose not to consume alcohol or drugs
• Plan ahead to keep yourself and our community safe
• Attend the After Prom celebration to have fun and stay safe
• Determine who will be the designated driver
• Forfeit car keys before you start drinking alcohol
• Consider downloading the Lyft or Uber app before you go
• Empower teens not to get into a car with someone else who is impaired
• If you see a driver with erratic, unsafe driving, call 911 or *CSP

District Attorney Michael Dougherty stated, “There is no excuse for impaired driving, and the consequences are often severe. I strongly support parents and schools providing safe, fun alternatives for our young people. After Prom is a wonderful event. With the support of community members, After Prom will provide teens with a special, memorable, and safe night.”

“We want our young adults to have fun during these rites of passage, but it’s important they stay safe while doing so. That starts with both teens and parents making smart choices,” Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn said. “Our officers regularly look for impaired drivers, especially during this time of year, because our goal is to keep everyone safe and ensure we all go home to our families at night.”

“We’re grateful for District Attorney Dougherty’s continued partnership as we work to keep Boulder and Fairview students safe on prom night,” said Robyn Savage, Chair of After Prom. “After Prom exists because the Boulder community believes our students deserve a safe place to celebrate this milestone. The support of parents, local businesses and community leaders like the DA is what makes this night possible year after year.”