St. Patrick’s Day may be synonymous with Guinness and green, but the partying and drinking associated with the holiday also come with consequences: more drunken drivers on the road. A total of 268 people died in car accidents involving alcohol on St. Patrick’s Day alone from 2008 to 2012, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Drunken driving is not only dangerous; it’s also extremely costly. The public cost of alcohol-related crashes is estimated at around $114.3 billion, including more than $51 billion in monetary costs and more than $63 billion in life losses. Beyond the fines and legal fees, individuals faced with DUI convictions are strapped with a recurring financial penalty: increased car insurance premiums.

In a recent study, NerdWallet analyzed the nation’s top 20 cities known for their St. Patrick’s Day parades and celebrations, ranking them by annual car insurance premium increases after a DUI. NerdWallet obtained quotes for eight driver profiles, chose each city’s three cheapest car insurance quotes — before and after a DUI or DWI — and averaged the results.

Here are the car insurance increases after a DUI in the 20 top cities for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations:

1. New York, New York – Annual car insurance increase: $1,837.42
2. San Francisco, California – Annual car insurance increase: $1,709.98
3. Washington, D.C. – Annual car insurance increase: $1,142.12
4. Syracuse, New York – Annual car insurance increase: $1,030.98
5. Atlanta, Georgia- Annual car insurance increase: $978.86
6. Chicago, Illinois – Annual car insurance increase: $940.39
7. Denver, Colorado – Annual car insurance increase: $839.85
8. Boston, Massachusetts – Annual car insurance increase: $809.34
9. Savannah, Georgia – Annual car insurance increase: $790.19
10. Urbana-Champaign, Illinois – Annual car insurance increase: $755.49
11. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Annual car insurance increase: $708.58
12. Dallas, Texas – Annual car insurance increase: $701.59
13. Hot Springs, Arkansas – Annual car insurance increase: $694.17
14. Houston, Texas – Annual car insurance increase: $690.80
15. St. Louis, Missouri – Annual car insurance increase: $493.75
16. Kansas City, Missouri – Annual car insurance increase: $455.09
17. Seattle, Washington – Annual car insurance increase: $449.41
18. St. Paul, Minnesota – Annual car insurance increase: $433.95
19. Scranton, Pennsylvania – Annual car insurance increase:$420.70
20. Cincinnati, Ohio – Annual car insurance increase:$376.35

The bottom line:

Before any St. Patrick’s Day celebration, every participant should plan his or her transportation to avoid getting behind the wheel after drinking. Consider taking public transit, organizing a designated driver, participating in rideshare, or researching special holiday ride services available in some cities. If physical harm is not enough to deter drunken driving, drivers should consider the huge financial costs.

The exclusive purpose of this article is educational and it is not intended as either legal advice or a general solution to any specific legal problem. Corporate offices for Nave DWI Defense Attorneys are located at 432 N. Franklin Street, Suite 80, Syracuse, NY 13204; Telephone No.: 1-866-792-7800. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Attorney Advertising.