If St. Patrick's Day revelers decide to drive drunk this weekend, they better have a pot of gold to cover the financial consequences of a drunk driving arrest. Local police officers, sheriff's deputies and Michigan State Police troopers in 28 counties across the state will be out in force with special federally-funded drunk driving patrols Friday and Saturday nights.

Some St. Patrick's celebrations begin early in the day, with establishments opening when many are still eating breakfast. That's why law enforcement agencies are reminding partiers to plan in advance how they'll get home safely.

The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) has made these funds available to reduce alcohol-related traffic injuries and fatalities. OHSP is stepping up enforcement for the holiday, funding nine more counties than it did for St. Patrick's Day weekend in 2006.

"Because St. Patrick's Day is a notorious drinking holiday, we are launching an aggressive campaign to address drunk and other dangerous driving behavior that puts our families at risk," said Michael L. Prince, OHSP director. "Michigan law enforcement officers do not tolerate drunk driving, so they will be out in force to spot, apprehend and arrest anyone who drinks too much before getting behind the wheel."

St. Patrick's Day is on a Saturday this year, meaning that partiers will have the opportunity to partake in bar specials and events like highly publicized "pub crawls" that start early in the day and go on all night. The extra patrols will start as early as 2 p.m. to catch drunk drivers before they cause a serious injury or fatal crash.

Law enforcement officers arrested 268 drunk drivers in Michigan on March 17, 2006, according to the Michigan State Police, Criminal Justice Information Center. Thirty-six alcohol-related crashes that day resulted in 18 injuries.

"Everyone is being given ample warning that there will be zero tolerance for those caught getting behind the wheel after having too much to drink," Prince stated. Participating counties include: Barry, Bay, Berrien, Clinton, Delta, Grand Traverse, Ingham, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Marquette, Mason, Menominee, Midland, Montcalm, Oakland, Oceana, Ottawa, Saginaw, Sanilac, Shiawassee, St. Clair, Washtenaw and Wayne.

For a list of planned patrol dates, times and locations, please visit www.michigan.gov/ohsp.

Read more news releases from the Michigan State Police.