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Pa. Police: Record Number Of DUI Arrests In 2010

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Pennsylvania State Police say in 2010, for the 9th year in a row, they made a record number of DUI arrests.

Pennsylvania State Police say they made 17,965 DUI arrests last year, an increase of almost 800, or about 5%, over 2009. But state police spokesman Jack Lewis said there's no evidence that people are drinking and driving more. He said the increase is likely due to better enforcement. One example he cited is a program that trains troopers and local police officers to look for signs of drivers who are impaired by substances other than alcohol.

"Last year alone, these drug recognition experts conducted 1,450 drug influence evaluations – that was a 29% increase."

And while the number of DUI arrests by Pennsylvania State Police increased last year, the 4,595 alcohol-related crashes investigated by troopers was 30 fewer than 2009.

Reported by Harrisburg Bureau Chief Tony Romeo, KYW Newsradio 1060

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