City partners with DUI/Drug Court
By Elizabeth Billips Associate Editor

Waynesboro officials have teamed up with State Court Judge Jerry Daniel to decrease drunk driving.

Last Tuesday, city council unanimously agreed to begin referring municipal DUI and drug cases to Judge Daniel's DUI/Drug Court.

The referrals would be at the discretion of both Municipal Court Judge Percy Blount and Waynesboro Police Chief Karl E. Allen.

Traditionally, the DUI/Drug Court has been targeted toward repeat offenders and those with a breath/blood alcohol content of .15 or more at the time of their arrests.

The court, which meets two nights per month, is designed to keep participants clean and help them get their lives together. Depending on individual progress, it can last anywhere from 52 weeks to two years.

Mayor Jesse Stone called the partnership a win/win situation, pointing out that the State Court program would be addressing a prevalent problem in the community without affect- ing the city court's revenue.

"We don't want the fines … they'll stay with Waynesboro," Judge Daniel agreed. "We just want to reach out and help the people in the city."