You can expect to see many more police patrol cars out on our roads this Christmas and through the new year.
Law enforcement agencies all over Oregon are staffed and geared up for the holidays.
In fact, they're already pulling over impaired drivers.
Officers with the Portland Police Bureau say even with all the education out there, some drivers are still not getting the message and they are driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
"It's kind of hard to believe in this sort of day and age that people still do that with all the education available and everything that's out there," said Officer Erik Koppang with Portland Police Bureau.
Officer Koppang has worked traffic for the last eight years.
"I've worked the last five or six Christmases. I always seem to find somebody that is impaired; at least one which kind of surprises me. I guess because it's the holiday, but they get together with family and the alcohol starts to flow," said Officer Koppang.
During the holidays, Portland Police officers are putting out extra patrols dedicated to catching impaired drivers.
With so many cars on the road right now, the patrols are focusing on specific areas within the city.
"There's definitely an increase volume in traffic," said Officer Koppang.
The extra patrols will span well beyond Portland.
Grant money is being used to pay the overtime for several agencies for increased officers on the road.
"We still have a higher rate of alcohol involved fatalities than we have had at other parts of the year," said Lt. Gregg Hastings with Oregon State Police.
On Saturday, December 18th and Sunday, December 19th alone, OSP troopers reported 45 DUII arrests.
They can't say it enough: "Make sure you plan ahead and have a designated, sober driver at all times," said Lt. Hastings.
The patrols will run at night because officers say that's the peak time for drunk driving.
The extra enforcement will go through January 2nd, 2011.
