DENVER (AP) -- Preliminary reports show authorities in Colorado arrested 444 people over the New Year's weekend in a crackdown on drunken driving.

The Colorado Department of Transportation says 1,631 people suspected of driving under the influence have been arrested in statewide sweeps since Thanksgiving.

CDOT says preliminary state reports show at least nine people were killed on state roads in alcohol-related crashes between Nov. 23 and Jan. 4. Twelve people died in DUI crashes in the same period one year earlier.

Colorado authorities plan to step up enforcement of drunken driving laws again over Super Bowl weekend, Feb. 5-8.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)