Suffolk's County's sheriff has announced he is increasing DWI patrols this holiday weekend.

Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. says it's important to keep in mind the dangers of driving under the influence.

"If you drink and drive, we will pull you over and you will be spending your holiday weekend here with us either here in Yaphank or Riverhead. Have a designated driver, call an Uber, or sleep it off or you'll risk sleeping it off in one of our jails or tragically you can end up dead," says Toulon Jr.

He says more beer is sold on July 4th than any other holiday weekend.

Officials also say they are anticipating more people being out this weekend compared to the previous two years because of the pandemic.

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison says they are ramping up highway patrol and doing checkpoints on throughways.

According to the National Safety Council, more than 460 people were killed in Fourth of July crashes last year.

The council says excessive alcohol caused 41% of those fatalities.

Authorities will also be searching for anyone who is boating while under the influence.

Pete Kimbiz, of Islip, has spent over 60 years on the waterways, and while he says it is second nature to him, he says people still need to take precautions.

"You should take a safety course - that is a definite," Kimbiz says. "There's people out there that have no clue."

Ferry operators are asking that boaters leave a safe distance between them and the large ferry boats transporting hundreds of people.

Suffolk officials are also urging people to leave the firework shows to the professionals.