BATON ROUGE - Law enforcement noted on the last Monday of the year that enforcement of impaired-driving laws will not be letting up simply because the Christmas holiday is behind us. In the week ahead, they'll be ramping up efforts to be prepared for what has become one of the most deadly holidays of the year due to impaired driving.

Highway safety and law enforcement officials will be continuing their Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over impaired driving enforcement campaign through Jan. 3 as the New Year’s holiday marks one of the most dangerous times on Louisiana road’s throughout the year.

Many communities are looking to combat the drunk driving problem by promoting free ride services during New Year’s Eve festivities. Data from the Baton Rouge Police Department in November indicated that DUI arrests in the Baton Rouge area have decreased 18 percent since ride-sharing service Uber entered the city’s marketplace. Communities promoting the apps are hoping its use can create a similar effect on the deadly holiday.

In addition to Uber, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has developed a mobile app to help make it easier for users to call a taxi or friend when they need a sober ride home. The "SaferRide" app is available for Android devices on Google Play, and Apple devices on the iTunes store.

Law enforcement wishes to remind motorists that driving while intoxicated in Louisiana is a serious offense, with a first-offense arrest costing thousands of dollars in fines, court costs, attorney fees and even jail time. An adult driver is legally intoxicated in Louisiana if his or her blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is .08 or higher. The limit for drivers under 21 is .02 BAC.