LAKE COUNTY – Local law enforcement are planning to conduct operations over the upcoming New Year's holiday to discourage driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Lakeport Police and the Lake County Sheriff's Office will take part on the DUI enforcement saturation patrols beginning on New Year's Eve, according to a statement from sheriff's Lt. Cecil Brown.

The operations are sponsored by a grant from California AVOID, an anti-DUI program founded in 1973. The grants are administered by the California Office of Traffic Safety for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

AVOID funds are used to fund duty time and equipment for DUI enforcement.

Officials warn that drivers who choose to drink and drive this holiday season should expect to spend the night behind bars.

AVOID activities that took place over Memorial Day weekend this year, from May 23 through May 26, netted nine DUI arrests, according to California AVOID statistics.

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