Orange County Sheriff's Department deputies were on patrol during St. Patrick's Day weekend to catch any drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

A total of 45 people were arrested when authorities determined the drivers may be driving at intoxication levels exceeding the legal limit, the Orange County Register reported. The sheriff's department's DUI task force increased enforcement throughout the community, which led to the arrests on county roads and freeways across Orange County.

The number of arrests during the holiday weekend was down compared to last year. Sixty-four people were arrested during St. Patrick's Day weekend in 2012, the Register reported.

The DUI crackdown was part of the sheriff's department "Avoid the 38" program. The 38 task force refers to the 38 agencies working to catch drivers who drink before getting behind the wheel of a vehicle, the Register said.

DUI checkpoints were set up in San Clemente on March 15 and in Irvine on March 16 as part of the weekend crackdown.

San Diego Police make DUI arrests over the weekend
Police in San Diego were also busy this past St. Patrick's Day weekend. Sixteen people were arrested when police suspected they were driving under the influence. One arrest included a mother with her baby, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

A sobriety checkpoint was set up in the East Village and ran from 11 p.m. March 17 until 3 a.m. Approximately 936 cars reportedly passed through the checkpoint. The Union-Tribune said of those, 663 were screened by authorities and 38 drivers were stopped for additional evaluation, the article stated. Sixteen cars were also impounded as a result of the checkpoint.

The mother with her 15-month-old child in the car was arrested for DUI and was also charged with child endangerment, the article stated.

Two drivers attempted to evade the checkpoint, one of whom had previously been charged with a felony DUI. The Union-Tribune said police used spike strips to stop the two drivers who tried to get away.

Drivers should consult a bail bondsman when they are held on bond after an arrest for driving under the influence.