Though more police officers will saturate Dane County highways this St. Patrick's Day, Madison streets will remain largely the same, a Madison Police Department spokesperson said Thursday.

The southwest division of State Patrol and the Dane County sheriff's office said state grants will help support additional officers this weekend to patrol highways for intoxicated drivers.

However, Mike Hanson, MPD public information officer, said the department has no plans to increase the number of officers on patrol during what some consider one of the most serious alcohol-related crash times of the year.

"It's not that we're ignoring the nature of this weekend," Hanson said. "We know people will be out celebrating."

And this year, more than the Irish will be partying in Madison.

The city is hosting the high school men's state basketball tournament this weekend, which attracts thousands of fans every year.

Since St. Patrick's Day also falls on a Saturday this year, Dane County sheriff's office spokesperson Elise Schaffer said the number of people celebrating would likely be higher.

"It's just become a tradition to celebrate," Schaffer said. "Really, the message we want to get out to people is plan ahead."

The State Patrol is trying to project a similar message this year, according to State Patrol Sgt. Greg Genswold. He said St. Patrick's Day tends to attract more intoxicated drivers since people don't plan for it like New Year's.

"People are very responsible on [New Year's]," Genswold said. "They don't think about it on St. Patrick's Day."

Although St. Patrick's Day does not usually garner the most fatal alcohol-related crashes during a holiday — Thanksgiving had the most in 2004 — Mothers Against Drunk Driving still considers it one of the most dangerous times to drive.

The Dane County sheriff's office will clock seven additional officers this weekend with the sole purpose of patrolling county highways for impaired drivers. Genswold said he wasn't certain how many additional officers are expected to patrol state and interstate highways this weekend for the State Patrol.

The additional officers will be paid through a grant from the Department of Transportation aimed to enforce Wisconsin's drinking and driving laws. Under current law, people may drive with a blood alcohol concentration less than .08.

Madison has received similar saturation grants, but has chosen not to fund the additional officers this weekend.

"You can use that money for saturation patrol however you want," Hanson said. "Each agency decides when they want to spend their money."