If Sarasota County Commissioner Shannon Staub has her way, anyone convicted of a drug-or alcohol-related infraction may soon pay an extra fine, which would go into programs designed to address those problems.

Staub said the fine -- mandated in a new ordinance -- would be very useful in this time of countywide budget cuts.

"A large percentage of our convictions come from alcohol- and drug-related infractions, such as DUI and so on," Staub said. "This fee would come on top of what they would have to pay, serving as another source of income to programs that would provide treatment, such as First Step of Sarasota."

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