RCMP said 23 people were charged with impaired driving last week during the holiday checkstop program on Manitoba highways.

That's an increase of seven from the amount of charges during the same timeframe in 2010.

"Those numbers are high and it is certainly a concern to us as a police organization that the message for some, unfortunately, is still not getting across," said Staff Sgt. Mike Zens from the RCMP.

With just days until New Year's Eve arrives, Operation Red Nose has been busy preparing to safely drive people home through the holiday celebrations.

"Cabs…bus service, Operation Red Nose, or a designated driver. There's no reason to drive (impaired)," said Gladden Smith, a volunteer with Operation Red Nose.

Last February, the City of Brandon adopted a program in partnership with Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

It's called Campaign 911. Motorists in Brandon are urged to pull over and call 911 if they suspect a drunk driver is on the road.

"It does seem that we are getting more calls regarding people that believe there's an impaired driver on the road," said Const. Kirby Sararas from the Brandon Police Service.

Police said the program is helping but couldn't say exactly how many arrests are attributed to the initiative.

One Brandon city councillor is hoping for more details.

"Are more people actually drinking and driving, or is it because of the new 911 campaign that…people are phoning in and so we're nabbing more of these people?" asked Len Isleifson, Brandon city councillor.

Brandon Police Chief Keith Atkinson said Campaign 911 has resulted in 28 impaired driving charges being laid since the program was introduced in the city in March 2011.

So far in Brandon this year there have been a total of 137 impaired driving charges laid. 

Atkinson said Campaign 911 is working well and will likely become permanent in Brandon. 

MADD Canada said that in other communities, Campaign 911 has led to a 30 per cent increase in impaired driving arrests.

Brandon was the first city in Manitoba to adopt the campaign. It joins with 70 other communities across Canada participating in Campaign 911.

- with a report from CTV's Josh Crabb