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Law enforcement officers will be out in force New Year's Eve weekend, hoping to stop drunken and impaired drivers and prevent serious car crashes.

Through state and federal funding, local law enforcement agencies will put more officers and deputies on the streets, all with an eye on catching drivers who shouldn't be on the roads.

The efforts are part of the Colorado Department of Transportation's "The Heat Is On" campaign, which funds additional drunken driving enforcement during certain times of the year.

The extra hours are paid for through the Law Enforcement Assistance Fund, federal monies administered by the state.

This holiday weekend, the Steamboat Springs Police Department will add two extra officers whose primary goal is to find drunken and impaired drivers between 7 p.m. and 3 a.m., Sgt. Rich Brown said.

Six or seven patrol officers also will be working New Year's Eve night, and when they aren't busy responding to calls, they also can work on traffic enforcement, Brown said.

The department received $15,000 to pay for putting extra officers on the streets for 2004 and has $15,600 lined up for 2005, Brown said.

Brown said the police department is encouraging people to arrange for a designated driver or use public transportation this weekend. One good option is to take the city's free bus, which will operate with eight extra buses in addition to the regular two from midnight until everyone who wants a ride gets safely home.

The bottom line is that people should make plans before they go out, Brown said.

The Routt County Sheriff's Office also has LEAF funds to put additional deputies on duty through New Year's Eve night.

It will have deputies spread throughout the county, Lt. Richard Wood said, with a focus on Yampa, where the sheriff's office is the first responding agency. Deputies will be "patrolling all of the roads to ensure they're safe," he said.

He encourages anyone who sees a drunken or impaired driver to report it by calling 911 or *DUI, and be the best witness possible without becoming part of the problem.

Last year on New Year's Eve, the police department and sheriff's office made five DUI arrests.

Drivers found guilty of driving under the influence may have to pay fines, spend time in jail, and give up their driver's license for a few months. Studies have shown that the resulting increases to their insurance, as well as other fees such as hiring an attorney, averages between $15,000 and $20,000, Brown said.