Police, deputies and highway patrolmen say they traditionally don't see an increase in drunken drivers on New Year's Eve, but they'll be out in force today anyway.

Many local law enforcement officials credit a national alcohol awareness campaign to the decreasing number of people willing to get behind the wheel after drinking. Many partiers are relying on designated drivers or free taxi services.

"The awareness campaign is paying off," Burleigh County Sheriff's Maj. Nick Sevart said. "People are becoming more aware of it and they're not willing to put themselves in that position."

Mandan Police Chief Dennis Rohr said people being more responsible isn't the only reason driving under the influence arrests are down over the holiday.

"It's one of the deadest nights of the year," he said. "A lot of times we have less activity on New Year's Eve than we have on a normal weekend. I don't think people party like they used to."

Bismarck Police Sgt. Allen Nass, Highway Patrol Capt. Mark Bethke and Taxi 9000 general manager Gary Schumacher disagree.

"It's our busiest night of the year," Schumacher said. "We probably have three times more (customers) than any other given time of the year. Every one of our drivers is out on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day."

Taxi 9000 partners with local bars and McQuade Distributing Co. to offer free taxi rides year-round. Bartenders hand out vouchers for a one-way trip home to anyone who asks, and some who don't.

The taxi rides are a safe alternative to dealing with today's bolstered patrol effort. Mandan and Morton County are staffing their usual six patrol officers and Burleigh County will send out five. The Highway Patrol will increase its numbers to 110, and Bismarck will fill up nearly all of its patrol cars with 15 officers.

The final 2004 alcohol enforcement effort will end a year of record-breaking DUI arrest totals. Many departments showed an increase from 2003. The Highway Patrol's arrests rose 6 percent, Bismarck's rose 14 percent, Mandan's went up 10 percent and Burleigh County reported a 20 percent rise. Morton County showed a 40 percent decrease in DUI arrests.

So far this year the Highway Patrol has made 1,513 arrests, Bismarck police 488, Mandan police 332, Burleigh County 242 and Morton County 71. Figures don't include today's effort.

The Highway Patrol reported that so far this year 98 people have died in car crashes, and 37 of those lives were lost in alcohol-related crashes.

(Reach reporter Mike Albrecht at 250-8261 or cops@ndonline.com.)