Anyone thinking of going out to celebrate St. Patrick's Day should keep in mind they face an increased chance of getting arrested if they drink and drive.

The Porter County Drunk Driving Task Force is paying for an extra 20 to 25 officers to patrol Porter County's roadways on St. Patrick's Day. The Task Force is also offering $50 to anyone who reports a drunken driver that night.

The task force used to pay for extra patrols for many traditional drinking holidays, like New Year's Eve, but not St. Patrick's Day. But a few years ago, it also began paying for extra patrols on that holiday after finding drunken driving arrested doubled or tripled in Porter County.

"It's a holiday to go out and celebrate and drink, so it's a big day for drunken driving," said Task Force Chairman Michael Grennes. "If you're going to go out, be responsible by having a designated driver or making arrangements for a ride so you don't drink and drive."

In addition to the extra patrols funded by the task force, Indiana State Police announced a sobriety checkpoint will be conducted in Porter County late on St. Patrick's Day.

There are also extra patrols through Operation Pull Over that started Friday and continue through March 21. The patrols are timed to coincide with St. Patrick's Day and the NCAA basketball tournament. Grennes said a lot of sports fans go to bars to watch the tournament at this time of year -- especially if their favorite team is playing.

Most police agencies in Porter County participate in the St. Patrick's Day crackdown. For Operation Pull Over, Indiana State Police, Valparaiso police, Portage police and Chesterton police are among the agencies participating.

People who see possible drunken drivers are asked to call 911 on their cellular phones. The last drunken driving crackdown was on Super Bowl Sunday.