If your St. Patrick's Day plans include hitting the road to travel to your favorite pub, the Waukee Police Department reminds drivers that even on St. Patrick’s Day, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher.

What are the consequences of driving after having a few drinks? You could:

• spend some time in jail.
• risk losing your license.
• see a big jump in insurance costs.
• pay a lot in attorney fees and court costs.
• have employment problems if you lose days of work.

How much does an Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) charge cost?

According to the National Highway Safety Administration, a drunk driving arrest costs an average of $10,000! That’s an expensive price tag for one night out.

What can you do to drive safely on St. Patrick’s Day?

• Plan ahead to take a taxi cab/driver service home, or secure a designated driver who will stay sober and make sure everyone gets home safely.
• If everyone in your group will have a drink, ask a (sober) friend or family member to pick you up.
• Help your friends make wise choices—if someone you know has had a few drinks, make sure they don’t get behind the wheel.

A final reminder: even if you do have a designated driver, other drivers on the road might not have planned so well. Your designated driver should be aware of the erratic behavior of other drivers and be on the defensive. Also, be aware that pedestrians might also have had a few too many green beers.