The Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Forensic Services Division (FSD), a nationally accredited crime laboratory, has been awarded a competitive one-year grant of $593,500 to help keep our roadways safe from impaired drivers.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The FSD will use the funding to support the testing program for detecting alcohol and drugs in driving under the influence (DUI) cases. Updated testing equipment will be purchased to replace existing equipment used to confirm alcohol in DUI cases. Instrumentation and validation services will also be purchased to develop a comprehensive confirmation method to detect illegal, prescription, and over-the-counter drugs commonly found in DUI cases.
”This grant will improve testing capabilities, analysis, and turnaround times at the Forensic Services Division,” said Contra Costa Sheriff David Livingston. “Having rapid results will benefit county law enforcement agencies and prosecutors and improve public safety.”
Last October, the Contra Costa County Sheriffs Office announced they received a similar grant with the award amount being $237,500 to help keep roadways safe from impaired drivers.
Office of Traffic Safety Awards Historic Amount of Grant Funding to Make Roads Safer in California
The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) today announced it has awarded approximately $127.3 million for 442 grants, the largest in OTS history.
“The OTS is committed to delivering efficient, innovative and data-driven programs to address the roadway safety crisis with immediate action and urgency to save lives,” OTS Director Barbara Rooney said. “We are redoubling our efforts to prioritize the safety of people walking and biking, as well as combating the riskiest and most dangerous driving behaviors such as speeding and impairment through collaborative enforcement efforts.”
The grant awards are part of California’s 2024-2026 Triennial Highway Safety Plan (3HSP), a three-year blueprint to make our roads safer and more accessible for Californians and mark a nearly 20% increase in awards from the previous federal fiscal year from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. — Full Story
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