Driving under the influence doesn't just affect you.

It affects your family and friends by possibly putting their lives in danger because you thought you would be OK to drive them home.It affects the emergency personnel and hospital staff who may need to treat you or the people you hit.It affects the police who may pull you over.It affects the parents and trick-or-treaters who are walking around town trying to have a fun night.It affects the drivers who unknowingly are driving on the same roads and who are at danger of becoming a victim of a senseless act.Driving under the influence affects more than just you.That's why the Carbon County District Attorney's Office and the North Central Regional DUI Enforcement Program want to remind everyone that drinking and driving is against the law and urge people to be careful this Saturday as they celebrate Halloween."You can stay safe by planning a way to get home before you go out," District Attorney Jean Engler said. "Even a slight amount of alcohol can impair how you drive."Be the sober driver for family and friends."With Halloween on a Saturday this year, Engler and Mahoning Township Police Chief Audie Mertz said extra police presence will be in local communities, both on patrol in town and at DUI checkpoints that will be set up throughout Carbon County.For example, Jim Thorpe police and its borough community watch group will be out walking the streets to keep both trick or treaters and pedestrians safe, as well as watch for any problems happening."Don't let Halloween turn into a nightmare," Engler said. "Remember, buzzed driving is drunk driving."David Everly, regional coordinator for the North Central Regional DUI Enforcement Program, said that communities are trying to raise awareness of a very real problem.Everly said that from 2009 to 2013 on Halloween night, a total of 119 people were killed nationwide as a result of drunk driving."We want to give people something to think about," he said.Halloween has become a social event for adults over the years and more business establishments offer parties, meaning an increase in the number of possible drunken drivers on the road as they return home, Everly said.