In the Bay Area, DUI arrests are up this year according to the California Highway patrol. While compared to Thanksgiving weekend of 2008 the numbers are slightly greater, 87 this year so far, vs 83 arrests last year, the number reveals little about whether more people were drinking and driving.

A number of factors could have contributed to the increased arrests, but statistically, the differences are probably insignificant.

More importantly, so far there have been no reported alcohol-related alcohol fatalities on the Bay Area roads.

According to a report by the Oakland Tribune, California Highway Patrol has 80 percent of its police force on patrol statewide. That's roughly 5,600 CHP officers out trolling for impaired drivers. And while that may seem like a large number, which you consider that it is for the whole state, which may contain upwards of 45 million people when you consider travelers and undocumented persons, that's approximately one officer per 8,000 people. Not exactly a needle in a haystack situation, but it puts the 5,600 CHP officers in perspective.

This only accounts for CHP officers. There are also County and Municipal officers patrolling as well, and the arrest numbers are not reflected in this report. Over the course of the increased enforcement, which ends at Midnight on Monday morning, officials expect that there will be thousands of DUI arrests throughout California.

The one number that matters most, the number of deaths due to DUI related accidents, is the one that most people will be keeping their eyes on. And if that number remains zero, then no matter whether it is attributable to increased manpower or pure luck, everybody will be relieved.