Howard County police have received a $79,000 state grant to tackle underage drinking.

Of that amount, $34,000 will fund overtime pay for officers to look for violators; the remaining $45,000 will allow the county to hire a coordinator, said Sgt. A. J. Bellido de Luna of the department's traffic enforcement section.

The money will help police "target the point of purchase and enforcement," Bellido de Luna said. "What this will do is allow officers to be dedicated to this."

Now, the department has one officer designated to target underage drinking, he said.

Pub Date: 4/09/99