The Cape Coral Police Depart-ment is stepping up its patrols of area roadways beginning this weekend, with officers on the lookout for impaired drivers who may be celebrating the holiday a little early.

The CCPD is participating in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign for the entirety of the holiday season.

The campaign runs from Dec. 16 through Jan. 2.

CCPD conducted a DUI saturation patrol on Friday. According to Lt. Anthony Sizemore, the spokesman for the city department, more saturation patrols will be forthcoming, but exact dates are unknown.

A roving patrol is when members of the CCPD’s Special Operations Bureau, or SOB, conducts city-wide patrols to detect impaired drivers and get them off the streets.

Sizemore said it was important to enjoy the holidays, but do so responsibly.

“During the next few weeks many of us will be attending parties and holiday celebrations. We want everyone to enjoy the restaurants, bars and entertainment venues that Cape Coral has to offer and have a great time. We just want everyone to have a plan to get home safely without driving impaired,” Sizemore said in a prepared statement.

CCPD officers offer some basic steps to keep the holidays safe for your families and for others. They include:

– Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin

– Designate a sober driver prior to drinking and make sure you leave your keys at home

– If you do find yourself impaired, call a taxi, a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation

– If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact your local law enforcement

– If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take that person’s keys and help him or her make other arrangements to get home safely.

Lee County Sheriff’s Office Spokesman Tony Schall said deputies will also be on the look out for impaired drivers during the holiday season, but added that the holidays doesn’t mean there will automatically be more impaired drivers on the roads.

“We’re emphasizing the message that we’re out there,” Schall said. “Impaired driving is not tolerated any time of the years, not just during the holidays.”