Nashville, Tennessee --- The Tennessee Department of Safety announced today that the Tennessee Highway Patrol will be out in force this St. Patrick's Day weekend. Drivers should expect increased patrols, sobriety and Driver License check points across the state.

"This year Saint Patrick's Day not only falls on a Friday, it also coincides with the beginning of the NCAA Basketball tournament," said interim Department of Safety Commissioner Gerald Nicely. "There's going to be a lot of celebrating going on this weekend. We want to remind everyone to act responsibly and rely on a sober friend to get you home not the so-called luck of the Irish."

In 2004, forty-eight percent of all traffic fatalities that occurred during the evening of St. Patrick's Day and into the early hours of the following morning involved drivers with blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) of .01 and higher. Of those fatalities, a vast majority were crashes where the driver's BAC was .08 or higher - the illegal limit in all states.

"Every 30 minutes, nearly 50 times a day, someone in America dies in an impaired driving-related crash," said Highway Patrol Colonel Mike Walker. "Impaired driving is no accident, nor is it a victimless crime. If you have a buzz, chances are you're too drunk to drive, so don't risk it. Enjoy this Saint Patrick's Day, but don't test your luck because impaired driving will not be tolerated."

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.

Enforcement for this and other holiday safety campaigns is funded in part through grants from the Governor's Highway Safety Office.

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.