Eight DUI arrests marked the second weekend of the new year, according to the State College Police Department.

"It's not completely normal, but there was no school so it gave people a little more time to focus on their drinking," State College Police Sgt. Chris Fishel said.

The arrests come after a record number of DUI arrests in 2006, clocking in at 484 -- about 150 more than in 2005.

According to Penn State Public Information, there were 4,392 DUI arrests among eight police departments in the last five years in Centre County.

"We all need to thank the police officers for pulling dangerous drivers off the road," Bill Mahon, Penn State spokesman, said. "With over 4,000 DUI arrests in the past few years, it's hard to imagine how many lives have been saved."

For 2006 alone, there was an "all-time high" of about 1,000 DUI arrests in the county, according to Penn State Public Information; Penn State University Police handled 48 of those. There were about 200 less countywide DUI arrests in 2005.

Also, two alcohol-related crashes involving students occurred in the latter half of 2006, police said.

According to court documents, on Oct. 28, 20-year-old junior Anthony Torsell drove drunk and hit two men, killing one and critically injuring another. According to court documents, on Dec. 2, Katherine Applegate, 23, drove drunk and struck and critically injured freshman Michael Drauch, 18, on East College Avenue.

In response, State College police and other authorities launched a holiday crackdown on drunken driving that extended from Dec. 15 to Jan. 1.

During that period, borough police made 24 DUI arrests, two times the amount made during that time last year, State College Police Lt. Dana Leonard said. "The strategy was to take advantage of the upcoming holiday period, when there is an increased likelihood of alcohol-fueled crashes, and put more cops out there to send a message," Leonard said.

Another statistic Leonard noted was the record high of 850-plus DUI cases that went through the Centre County District Attorney's office from January to November 2006.

"It's a disturbing number for the size of our community," he said.

Leonard said he believes the increase in DUI arrests can be attributed to more drunken drivers and greater police enforcement.

Increased effort at peak holiday times, research and community education will be new and rejuvenated strategies for 2007, Leonard said.

"If you increase enforcement, it causes people to think twice about doing it," he said. "I'd love for 2007 to see a reduction in DUI arrests, lower [blood-alcohol contents] and less alcohol-fueled crashes."

Mahon, co-chairman of the Partnership United Against Dangerous Drinking, said crashes that involve alcohol are not accidental.

"If you consciously make a decision and you are impaired, you are taking your life and others' lives in your hands," he said.