Wanting to limit the number of fatal car crashes, and specifically alcohol- related fatalities, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, Meridian Police Department, and other agencies are participating in "Over the Limit, Under Arrest" campaign to warn drivers against driving under the influence. It starts this weekend.

And if you don't want to listen, officials say you're next stop is jail. The important number to remember is 345. That's how many people died in Mississippi last year in alcohol-related accidents.

And for one mother, a drunk driver changed her life and that of her son's forever.

"He was going to have dreams," said Rene Bower. "They were taken by a man who didn't think before he drank."

Bower was told by doctors that her son, Richard, had traumatic brain damage after the car he was riding in was struck by a drunk driver.

"He was in a coma for a year, what they call a semi-vegetative state for another year," Bower said. "He woke up after two and a half years on Mother's Day and said mom for the first time."

Richard is just re-learning to walk and is still speech-impaired. He's an example of why the state Department of Public Safety is ramping up efforts to stop drunk drivers.

"Over the Limit, Under Arrest" is in conjunction with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Officials with the MPD say they'll be out in full force looking for drunk drivers.

"It's important for us, because everyone knows of a tragedy where a drunk driver has killed himself or other people, and it's important that we try to get these individuals off the road," said Capt. Rick McCary.

"Over the Limit, Under Arrest" will go from this weekend, until the end of the Labor Day weekend.

The Mississippi Highway Patrol will continue a public service campaign on TV, radio and billboards. But officials say, with the help of increased funding from the state legislature, 164 more troopers will be on the roads compared to last year.

"And if you don't believe in presence and numbers, you can look at last year," said MHP commander, Col. Michael Berthay. "What we've been able to accomplish with that money and those people and the drastic decline in DUIs and fatalities."

But troopers will do more than sit on the side of the road during the holiday season.

"Clearly visibility and saturation is an important deterrent, but they'll also be detecting impaired drivers and making arrests," said Stephen Simpson, public safety commissioner.

Public Safety is starting this initiative now to coincide with students going back to college and the leading into the Labor Day weekend.

But Commissioner Stephen Simpson said expect this increased law enforcement presence to continue through Christmas and New Year's.