Law enforcement officers on the Treasure Coast will be stepping up their efforts to catch and arrest drunk drivers on New Years Eve.
In Martin County, the number of deputies looking for people driving under the influence will double starting at 7 P.M.
In St. Lucie County, the number of deputies on the road will increase by 50%.
Martin County Sheriff William Snyder briefed his night crew about the dangers on the road on New Years Eve, telling them it's a night for zero tolerance.
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"Tonight, would you be extra careful? If you see the weaving, the lane straddling, the rolling stop signs, the classic symptoms and signs of a DUI, go ahead and make the stop. We have our DUI units out tonight. There's a saturation patrol for DUI so anything you can do to push back on DUIs please do it," Snyder told his deputies.
Deputies will also be on the look out for reckless drivers. Martin County has seen twice as many fatal crashes this year compared to last year.
They will be patrolling obvious areas near bars, but also highways, side streets and neighborhoods.
DUI arrests have also gone up. In 2014, arrests were up 30% according to John Nelson with Families Against Drunk Driving.
Families Against Drunk Driving board member, Barry Grant Marsh, sees first hand how drunk driving can tear apart families.
The organization aims to help families move forward after someone is killed by a drunk driver. "I have witnessed people, bodies on the ground from drunk driving and it is a terrible thing. I don't ever want to know what it's like to experience that as a parent," Marsh said.
The increased enforcement will last into the morning hours.
