DONATION OF 'DARE BUG' EXPECTED TO BOOST POLICE PROGRAM

Halton's DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program has been bugged.

Last week, during the monthly Halton Regional Police Services Board meeting,
a 2003 VW Beetle -- decked out in full DARE regalia -- was officially
unveiled.

Donated by Oakville Volkswagen president/owner Mark Seibert, the silver bug
is already proving to be a hit with children.

"It's been in use for two weeks now and it's been an excellent ice-breaker
for the kids," said Const. Derrick Marshall, who oversees the program in
Oakville and has already received great feedback from students.

The DARE program, offered to all Grade 6 students in Halton by
specially-trained officers, provides children with the self esteem and will
power to refuse offers of drugs and alcohol, options how to deal with the
stress of peer pressure and the means to solve problems without resorting to
violence.

"DARE is a program we've cherished," said Police Chief Ean Algar, who
explained that community support like Seibert's helps sustain this important
initiative.

Such "tremendous participation," Algar continued, helps make Halton Regional
Police a better service and the region a "better community."

For his part, Seibert said that as the father of two children, he's part of
the community too and wanted to do something to help the program out.

"I felt this was perfect," said Seibert, who added that DARE deserves all
the recognition it receives.

Const. Marshall, who explained that the Beetle will also be an attraction at
special events, approached Seibert about the idea and since many Volkswagen
dealerships across Ontario already support DARE, the donation was an easy
sell. The car was ordered then completely decked out in familiar DARE logos,
Halton Regional Police crest and the words DARE Bug across the front.

According to retired police Sergeant and current DARE Halton chair Joe
Prasad, the program costs $500,000 a year to run in the region so every
donation is appreciated.

"A gift like this means so much. It really helps us," he said. "It links us
to the community."