New Year’s Eve is approaching – potentially one of the best parties of the year. Lights, party hats, paper-and-colored-foil horns, glittering banners with “2015” splashed across the front, the dancing, the countdown and the kiss at the stroke of midnight: it’s all part of a great, big, wonderful celebration. And what would New Year’s be without a little bubbly?

Of course, the fun is dampened a bit if it ends with a breathalyzer, handcuffs or a ambulance gurney. In 2012 (the last year the Secretary of State has records for DUIs available), there were 892 DUI arrests. The penalties related to a suspicion of DUI stop have increased, with additional penalties all but three of the last 30 years. In several years, the state has passed numerous increases in the penalties for a DUI.

Driver’s licenses that are suspended or revoked, potential jail time, community service, fines and more fines, bail, higher insurance premiums (when you can drive again), lawyer’s fees – these are all some of the potential perks that come with a DUI.

As a roll of the dice, it’s really not a very good bet. Even if someone is lucky enough to get home without a DUI, or an accident, what did they win? But, if they lose that bet, the costs are astronomical. It’s a life-changing event and no-where near worth the costs.

One way to avoid handcuffs, or an ambulance, or even a hearse, is to carefully monitor how much alcohol you consume before driving. According to the State of Illinois, a 170-pound male will challenge the legal limit with four drinks in an hour of dinking. In other words, it doesn’t take much (Page 4, http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_a118.pdf).

Monitoring your alcohol intake, however, tends to subvert the care-free nature of a New Year’s Eve.

Another option is to bring along a designated driver. Maybe you know someone who doesn’t drink and is willing to haul a car-load of soused revelers back home after the party. Otherwise, one of your group may have to agree to only have a couple drinks, just to be safe.

Another solution is to call a cab. However, with the steadily increasing nature of the penalties for DUI that the state has enacted, more and more people are showing that they have the common sense to call a cab. As a result, cab drivers are more than a little busy that night. You may have to wait a while.

Another solution, and one that really has some class, is to schedule a limo. At McHenry Limousine, they have 11 limos that will bring revelers to and from New Year’s parties in style.

McHenry Limousine schedules the cars so that party goers know they’ll have a ride there when they want it. It’s inexpensive but completely effective DUI insurance.

Here at Performance Unlimited, we wish you all a safe and Happy New Year.