State College police have arrested more people for driving under the influence so far this year than in all of 2005 -- and they are not slowing down this weekend.

Anticipating a heavy amount of incidents involving driving under the influence (DUI) in the remaining 2 1/2 months, State College Police Lt. Dana Leonard said the rise may have been caused by an increase in drivers who are drunk as well as an increase in police looking for them.

This year, State College police have already arrested at least 25 more people more than they did last year.

"And we have almost 3 months left," Leonard said. "Our experience is that this is a busy time of year for that kind of behavior. There is going to be more."

Leonard said because State College is a big drinking town, the police have a long-standing emphasis on controlling alcohol-related crimes.

"[People are more] likely to be caught in State College than other areas of the state," Leonard said.

He said the increased number of visitors each weekend for football games contributes to the DUIs, and with a big game around the corner, police are anticipating a big number of alcohol-related incidents.

Centre County Alcohol Task Force -- made up of officers from Ferguson Township, Patton Township, State College, Bellefonte, Spring Township and the Sheriff's office -- will be at checkpoints and patrolling the streets to ensure drivers are sober.

Penn State University Police assistant director, Tyrone Parham, said the number of DUIs this year is relatively average, although he does expect this year's arrests to surpass last year's.

Leonard said while increased enforcement does make the number of recorded DUIs go up, eventually police hope the threat of being caught will make more people think twice before getting behind the wheel drunk.

"If you increase enforcement and people are aware it's less acceptable, then it seems logical that less people will engasge in that type of behavior," he said. "With these high numbers, I don't know that our message is out there."