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TOP JOBS

By EVERETT TAYLOR

Spring and summer are the most popular vacation seasons and the trip decision-making this year could be complicated by sky-high energy costs, particularly gasoline.

Any way you choose to go this year likely will involve a wad of extra dollars for "fuel costs." Add a few gold coins to the larder if your aim is to gain "King of the Road" recognition these days.

Everybody is aware of the high gasoline costs, and likely figure they will be even higher during the peak travel season in coming weeks. And if it is an extensive driving trip, prices can be considerably different from state to state.

Something else people who like to take driving vacations know about are those little towns that have somehow survived along major roadways and like to post 30-mile-per-hour speed limits for a few miles in each direction from the city center traffic light.

These are lovingly called "tourist traps," and if the local police car clocks you at 50 mph in their city zone, get out the checkbook. You think gasoline prices are high?

But for this year's drivers, the term "tourist trap" has been given a whole new meaning by the city of Erlanger, Ky. If you might be driving that far, it's something you should know.

Erlanger's City Council recently voted to start collecting special fines from out-of-town drivers at fault in traffic accidents in their town.

The idea to start charging out-of-town vehicles came from Erlanger City Council's Revenue Generation Committee. It proposed charging at-fault, out-of-town drivers $14 for the first 20 minutes an officer is at an accident scene; an additional $7 for every 15 additional minutes the officer remains; and $154 for requiring use of a police car.

That can come to a rather tidy sum without even figuring in the boost in your car insurance rates. No word on whether Erlanger's ambulances and hospitals are considering a surcharge for nonresidents.

Police Chief Marc Fields said he was concerned the decision would hurt his city's image. But after looking at vehicle accident records, he said, "I couldn't make a legitimate argument against it."

Of 343 vehicle crashes in the city during November and December, 82 percent did not involve an Erlanger resident, according to an Associated Press analysis. Only 48 of the vehicles were carrying someone from the city.

It might not be that Erlanger people are better drivers; a highway configuration that puts a lot of out-of-towners on roadways flowing through the town looks like the culprit.

Geographically, the city of 17,000, in northern Kentucky - just across the river from Cincinnati - is set up for lots of out-of-town drivers. The major north-south thoroughfares of Interstates 75 and 71 and U.S. 25 and 42 bring numerous travelers through town every day.

Fields said he's still concerned about how the policy may change people's perception of the city, and some city council members share his concern. But they think the plan is better than raising taxes on residents.

Perhaps more disturbing is a report that some other towns have noticed and could be following suit. Small towns in Florida, Ohio and Oregon are reported to have implemented similar policies, and other medium-size cities and even metropolitan areas are said to be exploring the idea.

So if you're driving in those areas, be cautious.

Pennsylvania, on the other hand, recently outlawed such an approach for towns in that state.

If Erlanger officials decide to stay with their accident revenue plan, it looks like they ought to at least come up with some kind of attention-getting warning to visiting drivers it will cost them extra if they are at fault in a wreck on city streets.

Just a "Drive Friendly" sign doesn't seem adequate.