W-b City Fire Union Eyes Pact 
Unlike Years Past, Contract 
With Firefighters' Union Could 
Be Wrapped Up Before A City 
Budget Is Passed

3 Return With Golden Memories

By RICK ROGERS; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Thursday, August 15, 1996 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





WILKES-BARRE -- The polished wooden benches of Courtroom No. 4 in the
Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas were filled Wednesday with a large group
of people awaiting hearings for the same crime. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In the last three days, two judges heard nearly 200 driving under the
influence cases in what has become an annual rite of August -- clearing the
drinking and driving cases off the docket before trials begin in early
September. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Judges Michael Conahan and Mark Ciavarella were supposed to have finished
the hearings Wednesday but the heavy caseload extended them into today,
Ciavarella's office said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 So many people have been charged with driving under the influence in
Luzerne County that special hearing sessions have been necessary the last two
years. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Long processions of somber faces have filed into the courtrooms since
Monday. The defendants know they have two options -- enter not guilty pleas
and get a trial date or plead guilty and be sentenced. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Though the defendants appeared to be from all walks of life, they had at
least one thing in common -- their blood-alcohol level allegedly was .10 or
higher. That is the level at which drivers in Pennsylvania are considered
drunk. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It's certainly hectic," said Conahan, after listening to 22 DUI pleas by
lunch time Wednesday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The DUI sessions in Conahan's courtroom were so crowded that the court
clerk routinely swore in an entire room of people at once. The defendants,
some of whom wore T-shirts advertising beer, didn't seem to mind the assembly
line justice. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I just want my case to come up so that I can leave," said a man who
appeared to be in his early 30s and did not want to be identified. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sentences varied depending on the defendant's DUI history. Some were
ordered to attend a form of probation, while others drew jail time. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Many of those pleading guilty are given the option, if they qualify, of 48
hours in jail or 30 days home confinement. They are also usually ordered to
pay a $300 fine and complete 25 hours of community service. Others go through
various mandatory drug and alcohol programs. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Conahan tries to be helpful during sentencing. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 One unemployed woman asked him if she could serve 48 hours in jail during a
weekend. But Conahan told her that there is a daily $25 fee for weekend stays
and she can save that money if she spends two days in jail during the week.
The woman chose a Monday and a Tuesday instead. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Helping with decisions like that is good for the county and individual,"
Conahan said. "There is a waiting list to get into the Luzerne County
Correctional Facility on the weekend and if the woman cannot pay the fee,
she'll be cited for contempt of court." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Nearly 200 Drunken-driving Cases Heard In 3 Days In County Court Volume Of Cases Has Required Special Hearing Sessions In The Last Two Years