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County's STOP-DWI program to spend down reserves, spend more on enforcement

By Howard B. Owens

For 2017, the STOP-DWI program will spend a little more of its reserves, with the extra money allocated toward increased DWI enforcement and educational programs, Assistant County Manager Matt Landers told members of the County Legislature's Ways and Means Committee at Wednesday's meeting.

The increase in spending follows a year in which revenue from DWI fines lags behind the previous year, but the program has more than $200,000 in reserves against an approximate annual spending plan of $200,000 and the state agency that overseas STOP-DWI programs thinks that level of reserves is too high, so Genesee County needs to spend its program reserves down a bit.

The law enforcement leaders on the STOP-DWI committee also want to see an increase in spending on anti-drunk-driving efforts, so spending reserves now doesn't worry them.

"Everybody understands this could mean cuts in the future," Landers said.

The program is funded through fines paid by drivers convicted of DWI.

The number of arrests for DWI in the county declined steadily from the 1980s until 2014, when changes in laws brought about a slight uptick in arrests.

In 2015 there were 228 arrests, generating $190,000 in paid fines. For 2016, the fine revenue is projected to be $183,000.

The projected revenue for 2017 is $190,000. Landers is proposing a 2017 budget of $226,000.

That would require transferring $36,000 from reserves.

The portion of reserves earmarked for law enforcement is $16,000.

Spending more on enforcement could mean more arrests, which means more revenue, but that really isn't the goal, Landers said after the meeting.

"It’s both sides," Landers said. "Obviously when arrests are up, it generates more revenue and it shows that we’re getting drunks off the road, but then again, when arrests are up, it shows there are more drunks out there. The idea is that in a perfect world the program would go away someday because there are no more drunks on the road.

"So, yes, it’s a double-edged sword. It’s good when arrests are up for revenue purposes. We can do more initiatives, but it means there are more drunks out there and it shows there is more work to be done."

Ed Hartgrove

 Assistant County Manager Matt Landers said, "Obviously ... when arrests are up, it shows there are more drunks out there."

No it doesn't, Mr. Landers. Just because more people were arrested for alcohol-related offenses, in no way does it show there are more drunks out there. It only shows that there are more arrests for it.

While it's certainly possible that there ARE more drunks out there, it's also possible that there are less drunks out there - and that they are just being arrested at a higher rate.

Sep 8, 2016, 7:58pm Permalink
Ed Hartgrove

Just a quick thanks to the person that gave a thumbs-down to my comment.

See, if it weren't for you, my lifelong understanding of human nature would've been thrown off-kilter.

When I see that logic (apparently) doesn't resonate with everyone, it reinforces my beliefs.

Again, Thank You!

Sep 9, 2016, 2:18pm Permalink

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