Undercover Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers and Alcohol Beverage Law Enforcement agents will fan out in bars and clubs throughout the Tulsa area on New Year's Eve, supplementing a heavy law enforcement presence on area roads.
The goal is to try to prevent DUI crashes before they happen, as well as to ensure the state's liquor laws are followed.
OHP Capt. George Brown tells KRMG that 241 alcohol-related fatalities occurred in Oklahoma last year.
"We're going to put undercover officers in bars and drinking establishments, we're going to do bar checks, we're going to do compliance checks, we're going to take this seriously for eight hours this evening, all in an effort to curtail DUI crashes," he said.
That, he says, is 241 too many.
"Rent a room, take a cab, use a designated driver -- whatever it takes for people to be safe," he advises.
He added that the cost of a DUI can be as high as $20,000, depending on circumstances, without taking into account the cost of a human life.
Several other law enforcement agencies in the area will also have extra patrols.