It’s New Year’s Eve, a time to reflect on 2009, spend time with family and friends and — for many — raise a glass to 2010.

We wish everyone a Happy New Year and urge revelers to celebrate safely, especially those planning on drinking out and about.

Between 2004 and 2008, as reported by the Herald’s Mike Rose, 1,688 Minnesota motorists were arrested on New Year’s Eve for DWIs.

That’s 1,688 people who could have saved a lot of money on attorney’s fees by simply planning ahead with a designated driver or a taxi service.

In addition, six people were killed in alcohol-related crashes during that same span.

Drinking and driving may seem convenient at the time, but it’s against the law, can lead to some expensive consequences and can result in injury and or death.