Police statewide arrested 569 drunken drivers during the New Year's holiday, the largest number since the Colorado Department of Transportation kicked off its DUI enforcement campaign in 1998.

As of Jan. 1, offenders will face stiffer penalties and fines up to $10,000. Under a new law, they also could lose their driver's licenses for nine months.

But the law also allows first- time DUI offenders a chance to get their licenses back after one month if they install a device that prevents the vehicle from starting if alcohol is detected on the driver's breath, said Heather Halpape, manager of safety programs for the CDOT.

The State Patrol and 52 law enforcement agencies participated in the New Year's crackdown, setting up saturation patrols and DUI checkpoints.

This year's record arrests occurred between 6 p.m. Dec. 30 and Jan. 5, eclipsing 473 arrests in 2007 and 449 in 2006 during the same enforcement period.