SEIZED DRUG MONEY WILL FUEL INCREASED DUI PATROLS

Jefferson County police will step up traffic patrols this holiday
season, looking for drivers under the influence of alcohol or other
drugs.

The department will use $25,000 in seized drug money to pay for 900
extra hours of patrols, Chief William Carcara said this week. About
six to eight officers will be looking for traffic violators from 8
p.m. to 2 a.m., he said.

"We'll have more officers on the road. They're not going to be
answering calls for service. . . . They specifically will be looking
out for traffic violations," Carcara said. "We're proclaiming
December zero-tolerance month."

Louisville police also will spend grant money received in September on
interdiction efforts during the holiday season, said Alicia Smiley, a
department spokeswoman.

The amount of money that will be used for increased patrols focusing
on drunken drivers and speeders wasn't available yesterday, she said.

Jefferson County police investigated 14 DUI-related traffic fatalities
in 2000, compared with five so far this year, said Lt. Bob Graham, who
oversees the traffic unit. The department investigated 65 traffic
deaths last year and 31 this year, he said.

Statewide, alcohol-related traffic fatalities have dropped 26 percent
since Kentucky established 0.08 percent as the blood-alcohol level at
which motorists are driving under the influence, said Sara McKinney,
state chairwoman for Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

McKinney and county officials said it's important that citizens and
law enforcement become more vigilant about drunken driving this
holiday season because more people are expected to take to the
roadways rather than fly, in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks.

"I encourage all motorists to drive safe and sober," McKinney
said.

County Judge-Executive Rebecca Jackson said it's not enough for law
enforcement to crack down on impaired motorists. The greatest gift
this season might be to give someone a ride home, she said.

County Attorney Irv Maze said his office will aggressively prosecute
DUI violations.

"The real frustration is not everyone takes this as seriously as they
need to," he said.