San Diego County Sheriff's Office Gets $400K State Grant To Combat Impaired Driving

SAN DIEGO, CA — The San Diego County Sheriff's Office was awarded a $400,000 grant as part of a statewide initiative to help reduce the number of serious injuries and deaths on the road, the agency announced.

"I want to personally thank the California Office of Traffic Safety for their continued support of the San Diego County Sheriff's Office's efforts to combat impaired driving in San Diego County," Sheriff Kelly Martinez said in a statement.

The grant will be used to fund the following programs and resources:

• DUI checkpoints and patrols focused on stopping impaired drivers.
• High-visibility distracted driving enforcement operations targeting drivers in violation of California's hands-free cell phone law.
• Enforcement operations focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of people biking or walking at risk.
• Enforcement operations focused on speeding, failure to yield, stop sign and/or red-light running, and improper turning or lane changes.
• Community presentations on traffic safety issues such as distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding, and bicycle and pedestrian safety.
• Collaborative enforcement efforts with neighboring agencies.
• Officer training and/or recertification.

"Through focused traffic enforcement and education, we're working toward a future where everyone will be safe on California roads," OTS Director Stephanie Dougherty said. "By encouraging people to prioritize safety in their daily choices, we are creating a strong road safety culture together."

Funding for the program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The grant program will run through September 2026.