An area county is reporting almost twice as many drunk driving arrests in the first month of the year than it did during the same period in 2009.

The Barron County Sheriff's Department says its deputies arrested 16 people for Operating While Intoxicated, and made three other absolute sobriety arrests between January 1, 2010 and February 5.

During the same period in 2009, the department arrested nine drivers for Operating While Intoxicated and made two absolute sobriety arrests.

The department says alcohol-related crashes killed more than 230 people in Wisconsin last year. More than 4,000 others were hurt in those types of crashes in 2009.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation defines a drunk driver as someone with a blood alcohol content of .08% or greater. The Barron County Sheriff's Department says alcohol can affect your driving skills at .05% or less.

The Barron County Tavern League encourages people who know they will be out drinking to take advantage of its "Safe Ride Program." For more information, click on the link below.