This New Year's Eve in Knox County, sheriff's deputies made more than a dozen traffic stops with a focus on impaired driving enforcement. Chief Deputy Tim Carroll said deputies were pleasantly surprised that an overwhelming number of those vehicles with intoxicated revelers had designated non-imbibers behind the wheel.

"Various warnings and summonses for defects were issued, and just one arrest was made," said Carroll.

That arrest was not for operating under the influence, said Carroll, but for operating after suspension. The individual arrested was Ruth Blair, 31, of Searsmont.

The Knox County Sheriff's Office, along with Maine State Police, and 50 other county and municipal law enforcement agencies shared federal grant monies to step up enforcement of drunk and impaired driving enforcement laws over the holidays. Fifty-two agencies shared more than $440,000 in funding in the statewide effort; the state Bureau of Highway Safety distributed the federal money in December and launched a program called, "DriveSober Maine!"

Carroll said Knox County's portion of the grant was nearly $10,000, and used to pay for increased awareness and enforcement efforts by the department.

The DriveSober Maine! Effort kicked off Dec. 1 and runs through Labor Day 2013.

Deputies may not have encountered drunk or impaired drivers on New Year's Eve, but they did locate a party at a residence in St. George with underage partiers and an underage host.

Deputy John Hansen reported the driver of a vehicle on Yattaw Road in St. George attempted to elude him by shutting off the headlights and proceeding down the road to a residence. Hansen followed the car and after he stopped it, he identified Blake Anthony, 19, as the driver and a passenger, 18-year-old Cody Billings, both of Thomaston.

Anthony was subsequently issued summonses for failing to stop for an officer and possession of drug paraphernalia. Billings was also summonsed for possession of drug paraphernalia as well as possession of alcohol by a minor. Another passenger, a female juvenile, was not charged with any violations, according to Carroll.

During the stop, Hansen reportedly observed approximately 50 vehicles at the residence Anthony drove to. Hansen also reported seeing 80-90 young adults and juveniles at the location, and requested backup from other law enforcement.

Knox deputies Paul Spear and Paul Pinkham responded to the Yattaw Road residence to assist in breaking up the party. Following an investigation, Brandon Cox, 18, of St. George, was summoned for possession of alcohol by a minor and providing a place for minors to consume alcohol.

"Brandon Cox was having a party while his parents were out of town," said Carroll. "And when the deputies arrived, many of the partygoers took off into the woods on foot."

Carroll said deputies stood by the residence to ensure that all vehicle drivers leaving the party had not been drinking.

"Once everyone departed, deputies remained in the area to continue observation," said Carroll.

Carroll also said that New Year's Eve was free of vehicle accidents.