Louisiana is planning a massive effort to stop drunken driving on its highways during December, The New Orleans Times-Picayune reported Dec. 5.

The state is planning 18 sobriety checkpoints - two run by each of the nine State Police troops in the state - through the month, all along routes frequented by over-indulging holiday revelers.

James Champagne, executive director of Louisiana's Highway Safety Commission, told the paper the troopers would be joined by police from 55 cities and 12 parish sheriff's offices, with some local agencies adding their own, additional checkpoints to the mix.

A $100,000 federal grant will help pay for the cost of officers' overtime. The State Police do not typically disclose where their checkpoints will be.

The Times-Picayune said the checkpoints, which were put on hold by court rulings, resumed in 2000. Since they restarted, State Police have stopped 17,000 vehicles and arrested more than 180 drivers at the 40 stops they have conducted, State Police spokesman Lt. William Davis told a news conference.