Law enforcement officials said alcohol was involved in 26 traffic deaths in the District in 2005, a nearly 37 percent increase from the 19 recorded in 2004, according to a new report released Wednesday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

And most disturbing, officials say, is that 15 of the 26 deaths involved drivers with a blood-alcohol content of 0.15 — nearly double the legal limit — or higher, marking a 50 percent increase over 2004.

The trend comes as other local jurisdictions have seen drunken driving deaths plummet, including a 71.9 percent decrease in Montgomery County, a 21.1 percent drop in Fairfax County and a 27.5 decrease in Prince George’s County.

D.C. police Lt. Byron Hope said because the total number is relatively low, any fatality can significantly increase the percentage. He emphasized, however, that any deaths as a result of alcohol are inexcusable.

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“We have increased checkpoints along the borders and really created a regional team to stop drunk drivers before an accident occurs,” Hope said. “Because it just takes one time to ruin a lot of people’s lives.”

Hope said he does not have specific numbers, but said the daily influx of tourists and workers flowing in from the suburbs does create a tough enforcement environment.

“It’s hard for us to pinpoint where the problems are because the places people come from and where they’re going changes everyday,” Hope said. “All I can say is, no matter where you’re from, if you have a few drinks take the subway, the bus or a cab.”

The study was released as NHTSA kicks off an unprecedented $11 million national informational campaign aimed at stemming drunk driving. The ads, which began running on television, radio and the Internet on Wednesday night, are aimed at the biggest offenders, men between 21 and 34 years old. The demographic is involved in nearly 33 percent of all alcohol-related traffic deaths nationally and more than 50 percent in the District, officials said.

mrupert@dcexaminer.com