If you're heading out tonight to ring in the New Year, police are urging you to plan ahead to get home safely and if you need a ride, look no further than the bartender at your favorite tavern.

"It's an easy, safe way to get home," says Jim Treu, with the Marathon County Tavern League.

It'll cost you six dollars, but it could save you a lot of trouble.

"Don't get a drunk driving ticket and make life miserable for the next five years," says Treu.

It's the Safe Ride Program, and most Marathon County taverns offer it. Last year, almost 5,000 people took advantage, up 25 percent from the previous year.

Just ask the bartender for a voucher, pay the six bucks and a taxi cab will get you home safely.

Police officials say it's a good idea, but say you should also have a backup plan.

"I believe taxi cabs will be busy tonight, so it's a good idea to plan ahead and have a sober driver to pick them up," says Deputy Chief Brian Hilts, with the Wausau Police Department.

Wausau Police will have extra officers on duty tonight, specifically looking for impaired drivers, but it's not just alcohol on the roads that police are worried about.

"Alcohol also causes problems for people who do stay home, almost all of our calls we will go on this evening will involve alcohol in one way or another, whether it's a domestic disturbance, a family disturbance," says Deputy Chief Hilts.

Deputy Chief Hilts say New Year's Eve is always a busy night for law enforcement and urges people to get home safely any way they can, whether it's a designated driver or using the Safe Ride Home Program and bar owners agree.

"This program is not for the person who's falling down drunk, it should never get to that point. It's for the person who might have had one or two cocktails too many, we want to make sure they get home safe," says Treu.

The Safe Ride Program is available year round, seven days a week.