◎羅彥傑
Soaring fuel prices have forced one police force in the US to increase fines for offending motorists.
高漲的燃料價格已迫使美國的一支警隊提高違規駕駛人的罰款。
From 1 July, motorists caught in Holly Springs, Georgia, will have to pay an extra $12 to cover the costs of police chasing them down.
從7月1日起，在喬治亞州聖泉市被逮到的駕駛人，將必須額外支付12美元，以彌補警方追捕他們的費用。
The town's police chief says the "fuel surcharge" will generate up to $26,000 in revenue per year.
該市的警察局長說，「燃料附加費」每年將創造最多2萬6千美元的收益。
Recent $4-a-gallon fuel costs have forced other police forces in the US to turn to unusual cost-saving measures.
最近每加侖4美元的燃料費用，已迫使美國其他警隊求助於罕見的節省成本措施。
Holly Springs' city council approved the $12 surcharge in all fines for those who commit moving violations late on Monday. It said the plan was aimed at offsetting fuel prices that had already eaten up almost 60% of the police department's fuel budget for 2008.
聖泉市市議會在週一晚間通過，凡是違反行車規定者所付的罰款，都需額外附加12美元。市議會說這項計畫的宗旨是抵銷燃料價格，因為燃料價格已吃掉該警局2008年將近六成的燃料預算。
The town's police chief, Ken Ball, said the measure would help him to keep up patrols.
警察局長肯．波爾說，這項措施將有助於他繼續巡邏勤務。
新聞辭典
surcharge：名詞，指附加費用或罰款。例句：The express company made a surcharge for delivering the trunk.（快遞公司對運送這個大箱子收取額外費用。）
turn to：片語，求助於、查閱。例句：You can always turn to me for help.（你隨時可以找我來幫忙。）
keep up：片語，使繼續下去、保持。例句：Please keep up my subscription to the magazine.（請替我續訂那份雜誌。）
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