Nashville, Tennessee --- Tennessee Department of Safety officials remind anyone who plans to consume alcohol as part of St. Patrick's Day celebrations to designate a sober driver before the parties begin. The Tennessee Highway Patrol plans stepped up saturation patrols on St. Patrick's Day and the following weekend.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) figures show that three in 10 Americans will be involved in an impaired driving crash at some point in their lives. "Don't trust the so-called 'luck of the Irish,' " says Department of Safety Commissioner Fred Phillips. "Celebrating St. Patrick's Day is fine, but drunk driving won't be tolerated. Designating a sober driver is the best way to protect yourself and others."

NHTSA figures also show 32 percent of all traffic fatalities on and around St. Patrick's Day in 2003 were caused by impaired drivers with blood alcohol levels of 0.08 percent and above. During the same period in Tennessee , there were 12 traffic deaths in the state, and three (25 percent) occurred in alcohol-related crashes.

THP Colonel Lynn Pitts says, "THP is stepping up saturation patrols for St. Patrick's Day and the following weekend, because research shows us that's when the threat of fatal accidents is the greatest. Efforts will be concentrated in areas where we think they will be the most effective." State Troopers made 65 citations/arrests for driving under the influence over the St. Patrick's holiday weekend in 2003 (March 15-17).

An individual convicted of DUI for the first time faces up to 48 hours in jail and the loss of driving privileges for one year. The associated costs of a DUI conviction can total as much as $4,900. They include attorney fees, court costs, reinstatement fees, higher insurance premiums, towing and car storage and an alcohol education program. The legal level of intoxication in Tennessee is .08.

The Tennessee Department of Safety's mission is (www.tn.gov/safety) to ensure the safety and general welfare of the public. The department encompasses the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Office of Homeland Security and Driver License Services. General areas of responsibility include law enforcement, safety education, motorist services and terrorism prevention.