LAYTON -- The Davis County Sheriff's Department will receive $197,000 in state alcohol funds this year -- $2,000 less than it received in 2009.
But because the formula for how funds are dispersed to counties factors in -- along with alcohol sales and population -- the number of DUI arrests from the previous year, one deputy is willing to take $2,000 less in funding in exchange for the success law enforcement agencies are having in deterring drunk driving through a campaign of increased enforcement and education.
"I think education is up," said Davis Sheriff's Deputy Chris Benedict, a patrolman who manages the county's youth alcohol prevention programs.
Benedict believes that police agencies are working harder to find motorists driving under the influence and has some first-hand experience to share.
"Two years ago when I first started patrolling, it was easy to find a DUI on a Friday night," Benedict said.
But violators are now harder to find, he said.
"We're trying hard. If it's $2,000 less in our budget, I'm OK with that," he said, referring to his suspicion that the total number of DUI arrests are down. "It is not from a lack of effort, I'll tell you that."
Over Labor Day weekend, there were two unrelated DUI checkpoints in Davis County, in Syracuse and South Weber, scheduled to run from Saturday evening to this morning.
About 30 officers were to participate in the South Weber checkpoint, Benedict said. In addition to checking on the sobriety of drivers, police were to look for such things as warrants and suspended driver's licenses.
The "super aggressive" attorneys across the county are also responsible for reducing the number of motorists found driving under the influence, he said.
"I think people know that," Benedict said. "There is no forgiveness for DUI in Davis County."
Sheriff's Lt. Brad Wilcox said the alcohol funds the county receives from the state are often used to buy cameras and portable Breathalyzers, the equipment deputies need to conduct the DUI checkpoints.
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