Sheriff Billy Carlisle plans to use nearly $8,400 of confiscated drug money to help purchase four new patrol cars.

"Some of our patrol cars have 200,000 to 250,000 miles on them, so we've taken several off the road. Now, we're trying to replace the main ones that are out there responding to emergency calls," he said.

The county commission approved using $130,000 to purchase the patrol cars in the 2012 budget last September.

Akins Ford Dodge in Winder was the lowest of six automobile companies at $138,339 when bid proposals were received earlier this year.

Carlisle said the remaining $8,339 would be funded from the sheriff's confiscated assets fund.

"We can only use that money specifically for training and buying equipment for our officers," he said.

If the bid is approved, the four new, fully-equipped Dodge Chargers will be delivered in early spring.

The department currently has two Chargers in its patrol fleet.

"They've worked out good for us. The new body changes have made them easier to see out and they are more reasonably priced than the new Chevy Interceptor that's replacing their Crown Vics and the new Chevy Caprice," Carlisle said.

The board will vote on the measure at 6 p.m. Thursday during its regular meeting in the assembly room on the second floor of the new Dawson County Government Center.