Sheriff’s Forensic Services To Use Grant For New DUI Testing Equipment

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — The Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Forensic Services Division, a nationally accredited crime laboratory, has been awarded a competitive one-year grant of $593,500 to help keep the county's roadways safe from impaired drivers.

The Forensic Services Division will use the funding — from a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — to support the testing program for detecting alcohol and drugs in driving under the influence cases, the sheriff's office announced Nov. 6.

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."