Maryland State Police are stepping up patrols this week in an effort to prevent St. Patrick’s Day partiers from driving home drunk.
Extra troopers will be on the roads in all counties for a DUI saturation patrol on Thursday and Friday.
State police said DUI arrests rise around St. Patrick’s Day. During the five days before the holiday last year, troopers averaged 16 drunken driving arrests per day across the state. On St. Patrick’s Day and the following four days, troopers made an average of 38 DUI arrests per day.
Police advise that drinkers have a sober friend drive them home, take a cab or use public transportation.
