The Lynnwood Police Department and Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office are hitting the road in force to look for impaired drivers.

Special DUI emphasis patrols are under way and will last until the day after St. Patrick’s Day on March 18.

“With Saint Patrick’s Day falling on a weekend, area liquor establishments may have more customers drinking ‘green beer’ than in past years,” said Tracy McMillan, the county’s DUI and Target Zero manager. “We want to encourage those choosing to celebrate to make plans ahead of time to get home safely.”

Police are teaming up with local bars to make on-premise visits and be sure everyone gets home safely. Snohomish County will use grant money to put more enforcement teams on roadways during this campaign.

Between 2005 and 2011 in Washington state, nearly 54 percent of traffic deaths around the Saint Patrick’s Day holiday involved an impaired driver.