The price of gas is affecting everyone these days. With gas prices hovering around $4 a gallon, it's becoming increasingly difficult to find the funds to continue our usual ways of life. The police are no exception. The prices of gas are affecting the budget of police departments. Some area municipalities have considered several things to help them cope with the increasing gas prices. Several police departments are advising officers to walk more often and turn off their cruisers when stopped or using radar. Franklin's police department is now requiring all cruisers be turned off 15 minutes of every hour and for officers to double up on slow days. Hamilton police have even solicited donations for Segways.

Another one of the routes that Franklin and Middletown are considering is adding a ten to fifteen dollar surcharge onto speeding tickets. "If you don't break the law, you don't pay the fine," said one Franklin Official.  Officials say that they need to make sure that the surcharge does not violate any state laws before its implementation.  However, the Butler County Sheriff's Office said they have no intention of implementing a surcharge on speeders due to the difficulty of enacting the surcharge, which would cover the entire county and several courts.