A. GARCIA/SFVS

Saturation patrols, when police officers increase their presence in a given area, and DUI checkpoints will cover the San Fernando Valley and the rest of Los Angeles Feb. 1-3, as the Los Angeles Police Departments gears for one of the biggest drinking celebrations of the year: the Super Bowl.

"What we tell people is that if you're going to be celebrating and watching the Super Bowl, and you're going to be consuming alcoholic beverages, you need to designate a sober driver to take you home," said Det. William Bustos, LAPD Valley Traffic Division.

"Many times people just hand their keys to someone who's drank less than they have, and then they get into an accident and someone gets injured, or loses his/her life and we don't want that," Bustos added. According to the LAPD, 12 people have lost their lives on city streets in DUI-related collisions that have injured 825 others in the past year.

Super Bowl XLVII between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens kicks off in New Orleans at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 3. The mantra from law enforcement agencies for Super Bowl Sunday is "Fans Don't Let Fans Drive Drunk." In California, anyone found with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 is considered legally drunk.

The call for keeping a tab of your drinking this weekend comes after the California Highway Patrol saw an increase in the number of traffic deaths and DUI arrests over the New Year holiday period. Traffic deaths went up from 25 to 41 and DUI arrests increased from 1,270 to 1,405.

Which means that Super Bowl party at your home could cost you, and not only because chips and beer have increased in price this year.

"You can be blamed and sued if someone who drank alcohol in your home ends up in a traffic accident," Bustos said.

Recommendations If you're hosting a Super Bowl party:

• Make sure all of your guests designate their sober drivers before kick-off or help arrange ride-sharing with other sober drivers;

• Serve plenty of food;

• Offer a variety of non-alcoholic choices like soft drinks, juice, and water;

• Serve one drink at a time and serve measured drinks;

• Only serve alcohol to guests over 21 years of age;

• Determine ahead of time when you'll stop serving alcohol, such as one hour before the end of the party or at the end of the third quarter of the game (just like NFL stadiums) and begin serving coffee and dessert;

• Add the numbers of local cab companies into your phone so they are just one touch away;

• Take appropriate steps to prevent anyone from driving while impaired;

• Be prepared for guests to spend the night if an alternative way home is not available.

If you're attending a Super Bowl party:

• Designate your sober driver before the party begins and leave your car keys at home if you plan to drink;

• Before heading out, add the numbers for local cab companies in your cell phone so if you find yourself in need of a ride, it is just one touch away;

Avoid drinking too much alcohol too fast. Pace yourself—eat enough food, take breaks and alternate with nonalcoholic drinks;

Take appropriate steps to prevent anyone from driving while impaired.