Let's see: The S.C. General Assembly orders across-the-board cuts in state agency budgets, resulting in fewer troopers on the highways and byways of the Palmetto State; fewer troopers result in fewer traffic stops, which means fewer arrests of motorists driving under the influence, which causes more DUI-related accidents, ending up in more alcohol-related deaths, assuring that state roads are among the most dangerous in the nation, which, of course, causes auto insurance rates to go up.

The State newspaper in Columbia recently studied traffic cases in South Carolina for the years 2000 through 2004. Among other things, the newspaper found that in 2004, the S.C. Highway Patrol arrested about 2,600 fewer motorists for driving under the influence than it did during 2001.

When local agencies were included, the survey showed 14,000 people were arrested for DUI in 2000 but that the number had dropped to 9,200 four years later.

Some attribute the decline in DUI arrests to problems with the "per se" DUI law enacted by the General Assembly a few years ago. Even though the new law states that anyone found with a blood alcohol level of .08 percent or higher can be assumed to be guilty of DUI, critics say it opened new loopholes by requiring police to videotape arrests and to advise suspects of their rights multiple times. Because of such problems, police often charge motorists under an older statute.

Although the new statute may be flawed, it does not explain the precipitous decline in DUI arrests. The biggest reason, of course, is that fewer troopers are writing tickets - a 15 percent decrease since 2001. Even so, that would not entirely explain a 43 percent decrease in the number of citations issued by troopers during the same period.

Candidates hoping to occupy the governor's mansion for the next few years may want to make this issue a major plank in their election campaign.

It's good news, then (is it not?), that the General Assembly last year approved the hiring of 100 additional state troopers? Well, yes and no. Yes, it's good that South Carolina will employ more troopers, but it's bad that they are clogging up the pipeline for new police officers statewide.

Mayor Doug Echols, for example, has pointed out that Rock Hill has a backlog of police officers who have been hired but cannot be put on the street until they graduate from the State Police Academy, and guess what? They can't get training slots because they are taken up by new state troopers.

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