DRUG CHECKPOINTS FOR YOUTH COULD INCREASE

Charlotte County high school students could find themselves pulling
onto the shoulder and handing over their driver licenses more often
next year if the Charlotte County Commission approves a proposed
$85,000 fund transfer Tuesday.

The Sheriff's Office is requesting the transfer, hoping to use money
raised from the drug abuse fund for increased roadway alcohol and drug
testing at checkpoints following football games, dances and other
popular school activities. Student education and a drug house
"odyssey" -- which simulates a drug-related death from the crime scene
to the emergency room and the courthouse -- are also new additions
that could result from the funds.

Sheriff's Maj. John Davenport said the drug fund is collected from
people convicted for drug offenses, not from tax dollars. The transfer
would relay funds from the drug abuse fund to the Sheriff's Office
drug trust account, according to Tuesday's agenda.

"Education always works," Davenport said. "(This is) a mechanism to
alleviate costs to the county taxpayer and still (allow us) to
implement substance-abuse programs. What better way to fund these
programs than to have the drug offenders contribute to the prevention."