LANCASTER TWP — Township supervisors drafted a letter Monday expressing concerns over a proposed centralized DUI court.

Supervisors signed a letter asking Butler County Judge William Shaffer to hold an informational session regarding the reasons for making the switch to a centralized DUI court, rather than keeping hearings local as they are now.

Their main concerns included police coverage and overtime costs.

Officer Andrew Grooms said he has been to Butler for a court hearing only once and was given a three-hour window to appear. Grooms said it took two hours for his hearing to take place. “It is much quicker going to the magistrate,” he said. “I believe it would cost the township a significant amount if it were to go to the county courthouse.”

Grooms said township officers' current practice of going to the Evans City magistrate for DUI hearings typically requires them to be gone only 15 minutes. “Normally, people show up a little bit early,” he said. “I can talk to them. If we can come to an agreement, we're out of there sometimes before the hearing is even supposed to occur.”

Supervisors agreed that there are potential disadvantages to the proposed change, such as potentially preventing officers from being able to respond to traffic or emergency situations for as long as three hours — or more with travel time.

Joe Plesniak, supervisors chairman, said the situation would be akin to jury duty and might include “wasted time.” That can translate to wasted tax dollars for the township to fund more police coverage while on-duty officers are in court, he said.