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But unlike during some previous gas crises, the state agency has no plans to cut back on road patrols. <p align="justify">These days, troopers such as Krause keep an eye out not only for speeders but also for the lowest gas prices in town. <p align="justify">''Every day I look around, and if I see it is lower someplace, I tell my people where it is,'' Krause said before starting the 6 a.m. shift on Florida's Turnpike. He hunts for cheaper gasoline on his way home and before reporting for work. <p align="justify">Krause is one of more than 1,600 troopers in the state. Together, they drive 38.3 million miles a year, consuming more than 2.5 million gallons of gas, making the FHP a major fuel consumer in state government. But from patrol cars to state-park pickup trucks and state-owned aircraft, other agencies are feeling the pinch. <p align="justify">The agency is exempt from paying gasoline taxes even when troopers purchase from a commercial station, so it is paying about $1.92 a gallon these days. But that is more than 50 percent more for gasoline this year than just two years ago. <p align="justify">Although most FHP cars are high-performance police specials that get 13 miles per gallon, the agency has begun replacing them with newer models that get 16 miles per gallon, FHP Director Col. Chris Knight said. <p align="justify">The new Fords will also have V-shaped, low-profile light bars for the car tops. The new lights cut down on wind resistance, helping improve mileage. <p align="justify">The agency's gasoline and repair budget this year is $9.6 million, up $1.5 million from last year, but likely $1 million less than what the agency will need before the end of the fiscal year in June 2006, officials estimate. The patrol will try to make up the $1 million, in part, by transferring money from other funds, Knight said. <p align="justify">Representatives of some of the bigger law enforcement agencies in Miami-Dade and Broward counties said their departments also have no plans for a reduction in patrolling. <p align="justify">More than a decade ago, Krause had to cut back patrolling because of high gas prices, but this year, because of FHP budgeting and the Legislature's inclusion of extra money for rising gas costs, there are no plans to sideline troopers. <p align="justify">''Gas has not prevented us from responding to anything,'' Krause said. Still, he says he and his fellow troopers are more likely than ever to cut off their engines when they are completing accident reports and other forms. <p align="justify">When it is convenient and things are slow, Krause lets troopers stop one at a time at the station to finish off their paperwork. Also, troopers are carpooling to training sessions and other meetings. <p align="justify">Virtually every day, Krause and his fellow troopers exchange e-mails or cellphone calls that include information about where gas is available at the best price. Often those are state Department of Transportation facilities. <p align="justify">''I've never seen [prices] . . . shoot up this much this quick,'' Knight said. <p align="justify">Knowing troopers shop for gas prices for their personal cars, he asks them to do the same for the state. And they do it, he said. Rising gas prices have also affected the state Department of Environmental Protection. <p align="justify">The agency has ordered state park personnel to use all-terrain vehicles instead of trucks, and to emphasize more use of the agency's alternative-fuel and hybrid cars, which make up about 22 percent of the more than 1,800 vehicles in the department's fleet. <p align="justify">The steady rise of gas also prompted the Department of Management Services to increase its budget for the state aircraft pool by nearly $400,000 in April, a department spokesman said. The cost was passed along to state agencies that use the airplanes. </td></tr></table> <P><hr width="90%" align="center"></p> <p align="center"> <a class="link4" href="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/misc/News/Related/Aug2005.htm"> FHP In The News August 2005</a> </p> <p align="center"> <a class="link4" href="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/misc/News/Related/"> FHP Related News Articles</a> </p> <p align="center"> <a class="link4" href="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/misc/News/"> FHP In The News</a> </p> <!--END PAGE--> <center> </td> </tr> </table> <!--END FHP CONTENT TABLE--> <!-- END FHP CONTENT --> </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee"> <tr> <td bgcolor="#333366"><img src="p3_spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="2"></td> </tr> </td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#6b79a5"> <!--BEGIN FHP FOOTER TABLE--> <table class="dark" width="100%"> <tr> <td align="left"> <a class="FHPfooterlink" href="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/misc/fhpstations.htm"> FHP Station Address & Phone Numbers</a>&nbsp;&nbsp; </td> <td align="right"> <a class="FHPfooterlink" href="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/misc/Mission.htm"> Mission</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a class="FHPfooterlink" href="http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/misc/SiteMap.htm"> Site Map</a>&nbsp;&nbsp; </td></tr></table> <hr width="100%" class="HR1"> <!--END FHP FOOTER TABLE--> <!-- Begin Footer Table --> <table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"> <tr> <td width="156">&nbsp;</td> <td align="center" class="footer"><a href="http://www.flhsmv.gov/html/overview.html" class="footerlink" title="Link to About Us">About Us</a> | <a href="http://www.flhsmv.gov/html/privacy_policy.html" class="footerlink" title="Link to Privacy Statement">Privacy Statement</a> | <a href="http://www.flhsmv.gov/html/Disclaimer.htm" class="footerlink" title="Link to Disclaimer">Disclaimer</a> | <a href="http://www.flhsmv.gov/offices/" class="footerlink" title="Link to Office Locations">Office Locations</a> | <a href="http://www.flhsmv.gov/html/contact.html" class="footerlink" title="Link to Contact Us">Contact Us</a><br> Copyright &copy;2005 State of Florida <br> </td> <td width="156"></td> </tr> </table> <a href="#top"><img src="images/p3_spacer.gif" alt="Return to Top" width="2" height="2" border="0"></a><!-- End Footer Table --></td> </tr> </table> </body> </html>