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Published: Friday, Jan. 11, 2013 / Updated: Friday, Jan. 11, 2013 04:28 PM

Sheriff's office to launch DUI enforcement team

YORK COUNTY -- 

The York County Sheriff’s Office has received a $250,701 grant to start a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Enforcement Team. The money from the grant will be used to pay for the salaries of two deputies, new patrol cars and equipment. The DUI enforcement team will dedicate all of its time to combat drunk driving in York County, according to the department.

The officers on the team will work closely with other agencies in the 16th Judicial Circuit law enforcement network participating in programs such as “Sober or Slammer” and “The 100 Deadly Days of Summer”. Team members will spend time educating the public about impaired driving at public events and schools. Since 2011 the York County Sheriff’s Office has seen a 61 percent increase in DUI charges made in the county jurisdiction, from 148 in 2011 to 239 in 2012. “Drunk drivers are a menace on the roads, and their actions of drinking and driving threaten the lives and safety of the citizens of York County,” said Sheriff Bruce Bryant. “With this new DUI team we hope to send a message to potential drunk drivers that the York County Sheriff’s office has zero tolerance for drinking and driving and those people will be prosecuted to the fullest.” The grant was awarded from the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, Office of Highway Safety. The DUI Enforcement Team began operations in December.