While people are bound to celebrate New Year's Eve regardless of the day it falls on, the state Highway Patrol expects more people to be out because it falls on a Saturday.

“We'll be doing the standard things,” said Sergeant M.A. Marshburn, of Troop C, District VIII, headquartered in Roanoke Rapids. “We'll be getting out extra manpower and try to be visible in all parts of the county.”

Marshburn said troopers will be out well past midnight watching for and arresting impaired drivers.

Captain Andy Jackson of the Roanoke Rapids Police Department said the new Laura's Law is going to make it tougher for people caught driving drunk. “The laws have changed making it even tougher. There are now aggravating factors if you wreck, have children in the car, you're looking at mandatory time.”

The law was passed after 17-year-old Laura Fortenberry was killed by a repeat offender. Under Laura's Law, “When you're sentenced to 36 months you have to serve three years. People need to know the laws have gotten a whole lot stiffer. We encourage people to get designated drivers. Do not get behind the wheel after you've been drinking.”

The consequences are far reaching, Jackson said. “There's a lot more than meets the eye. In addition to fines, loss of job, loss of income, there's increased insurance costs, loss of driving privileges, the cost of Interlock, community service time and, at worst, killing somebody. Every single death caused by a drunk driver is totally preventable.”

Jackson recommends having a friend who chooses not to drink to take the wheel of the vehicle. “If you have to, take their keys and make them stay the night, call a cab. Do whatever is necessary to make sure they don't drive.”