Police in Fairfield are preparing for one of the biggest celebratory days of the year: New Year's Eve.

"A lot of horrors happen on New Year's Eve with respect to accidents and we're trying to reduce that," says Fairfield Police Department Lt. James Perez.

Police plan to ramp up patrols in the search for drunken and other unsafe drivers on the busy night. They will be on the lookout for erratic driving, such as swerving between lanes. There are more subtle signs, too.

"Having their interior lights on, having only their parking lights on," says Perez.

Perez says a driver has the right to try and avoid checkpoints, saying drivers are actually within their rights to turn around to avoid them, but police will remain vigilant.

Police say if you see someone driving erratically, keep your distance and, if possible, give them a call.