VIDALIA, La. — Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or without wearing a seat belt or restraining younger passengers, is never safe.

But try it in Louisiana through the Fourth of July, and it could get you a ticket.

&uot;This is a huge holiday in Concordia Parish,&uot; said Sheriff Randy Maxwell.

&uot;We have hundreds of people going to family celebrations and we want them to do it safely, whether they’re on the highways or the lakes.&uot;

So as part of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission’s 1999-2000 Safe and Sober Campaign, Concordia deputies are logging 50 hours of overtime during this holiday to catch unsafe drivers.

A $3,600 grant is allowing the Vidalia Police Department to add two more officers to each shift during the holiday, for a total of four officers on each shift, said Traffic Director Frank Webb.

And each Louisiana State Police troop will also put in 50 hours of overtime with help from a grant by the Highway Safety Commission.

In all three cases, the additional patrols started Friday and will continue through Tuesday.

Such enhanced patrols have worked well in the past, Maxwell said.

During the Memorial Day weekend, Concordia deputies issued 50 citations, including 22 for adults not wearing seat belts and 26 for speeding.

But the Fourth of July holiday has still proven to be a deadly one in years past, said Col. W.R. &uot;Rut&uot;&160;Whittington of the Louisiana State Police.

Last year, eight people died in vehicle crashes on state highways. during the holiday.

In addition, 173 driving while intoxicated arrests were made, 1,349 speeding citations were issued and more than 400 seat belt and child restraint tickets were issued by state police.