INDIANAPOLIS — The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is considered one of the biggest drinking days of the year.
Some may even have heard people call it "Blackout Wednesday." It's when people who are back home for the holidays, head out to get drinks or dinner with friends and family.
And sometimes they get one drink too many. That extra drink could cost you.
For example, if you had about four beers and a shot at the bar, that might run you about $30.
According to one lawyer, you'll have to pay more than 250 times that in fees and fines if you don't catch a ride home if you're drunk. And law enforcement at every level say those drinks won't just cost you some serious cash, but also some jail time.
"Depending on how intoxicated you are when you're arrested could determine how long you have to be in jail," Indiana State Police Sgt. John Perrine said.
Perrine said this day last year, less than a handful of people were charged with driving while intoxicated on Marion County highways and interstates. As for IMPD, its officers arrested six people for DWI in that same timeframe.
Philip Hayes has his own practice as a criminal defense attorney. He said you'll likely have to pay thousands of dollars in court costs and lawyers fees if you're caught driving drunk.
"You could be looking at between $5,000 to $8,000 on your first DWI," Hayes said.
So, how does that compare to Uber prices?
Let's say you're taking one from Kilroy's in Broad Ripple to 16 Bit off of Massachusetts Avenue around 8 p.m. Wednesday. According to the ride-sharing service, it'll run you about $42 for an UberX and $50 for an Uber XL and Comfort.
But if you don't have the money or don't prefer taking ride shares, Perrine said you should have a Plan B.
"I would venture to guess you have a friend or a family member that may not be out with you, that if you called at any time of the day, they would much rather get that phone call from you saying I need a ride home than getting a phone call or visit from me saying you've been in a serious crash or killed," Perrine said.
If you find yourself with your keys in your hand, about to drive home drunk, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wants you to remember drunk driving is leading cause of death for those on the road.
