Numbers in the news

25

If a toll system is put into effect on Interstate 80, it will probably cost about $25 to take a car across the entire 300-mile Pennsylvania expanse. Tractortrailer drivers will pay $96.

The tolls would take effect in 2011 unless the action is reversed by the state legislature or blocked by Congress.

Supporters say the tolls will generate billions of dollars for the state's crumbling bridges, decaying highways and financially strapped masstransit agencies. Opponents have formed the "Stop I-80 Toll Committee," based in Clarion and representing many manufacturers and people who work in tourism.

Congressmen Phil English and John Peterson are pushing for Congress and federal regulators to reject the toll system.

123

Some 123 impaired drivers were taken off the roads last month during a one-night, concentrated effort by Pa. State Police and local law enforcement agencies. Police conducted 19 checkpoints across the state, using drug recognition experts to spot drivers with the symptoms of drug-induced impairment. Drug recognition experts conducted 21 driver evaluations that night, resulting in 19 arrests for impaired driving.

Overall, the one-night checkpoints produced 123 arrests for impaired driving and 460 other arrests and citations. More than 9,000 motorists passed through the checkpoints.

The next impaired driving crackdown is scheduled for Oct. 26 to Nov. 3.

51

Kurt Steiner's record has been broken.

The Emporium man held the rock-skipping mark in the Guinness Book of World Records. He set it in 2002 with 42 skips.

This year, Russell "Rock Bottom" Byars cast a stone that skipped 51 times on the flat water of the Allegheny River, where it meets French Creek in Franklin.

Guinness experts analyzed film of Byars' toss before verifying his record.

100

The number of people purchasing reduced-price groceries available through the Angel Food Ministries program in Emporium and Austin has been steadily falling in recent years. It now stands at about 100, after peaking at upwards of 500 a few years ago.

Pastor Rock Pifer from the Cameron County Christian Center encourages people to contact the church or stop at Country Blessings, where additional information and entry forms are available. There are no income guidelines.

20

Property around the St. Marys Airport is going to be subdivided to accommodate an industrial park and other development. A subdivision plan would create 20 new parcels, 14 of which would be sold as commercial/industrial lots.

Drainage issues and preservation of wetlands have caused some changes in the original subdivision plans. A soccer field near the airport will not be disturbed.

86.7

PennDOT reports that the seat belt rate has hit 86.7 percent, a slight increase over the previous high of 86.3 percent reported in 2006.

In 2006, 611 people lost their lives on Pennsylvania highways because they were not properly belted.

PennDOT invested more than $1.7 million in seat belt enforcement this year. Police conducted enforcement activities in May as part of "Click It or Ticket," under which unbelted drivers who were stopped and cited for a traffic violation received a second citation for failure to wear a seat belt.

Under Pennsylvania law, all front seat passengers are required to buckle up. Failure to comply with the seat belt law can result in a penalty of $60, including the fine and other costs.

Children ages 4 to 8 must be restrained in an appropriate booster seat when riding anywhere in a motor vehicle. In addition, children ages eight to 18 must be in a seat belt when riding anywhere in the vehicle. Children under the age of four must be properly restrained in an approved child safety seat anywhere in the vehicle. The fine for non-use of child safety and booster seats is a maximum of $100 in addition to other costs.