San Rafael, CA – The Marin County District Attorney's Office will have a specialized team to prosecute alcohol and drug-impaired driving cases, thanks to a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS). The $211,025 grant is for a one-year period from October 1, 2019, to September 30, 2020.
Impaired driving remains a major problem in Marin County. Since January 1, 2019, 1,028 drivers have been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in Marin.
District Attorney Lori Frugoli said the DUI Vertical Prosecution Grant has provided her office with necessary financial means to maintain one full-time attorney who vertically prosecutes DUI offenders specializing in those causing injuries, related to drugs, and repeat offenders.
“This focus on the successful prosecution of serial DUI drivers allows us to help keep Marin highways and streets safe for all drivers and pedestrians,” Frugoli said. “It also helps us to maintain consistent policies and practices within our office and focuses our resources on those individuals who pose the greatest risk of harm on our roadways.”
Grant funding will be used to continue the DA’s prosecution program focused solely on driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drug cases, provide training for prosecutors and investigators through California's Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor Program, and coordinate with law enforcement to handle all steps of the criminal process.
This is the eighth year the DA’s Office has received funding from the OTS for a DUI prosecution program. During the last grant year, the prosecution team filed approximately 1,256 DUI cases, including 152 DUI drug cases and 1,104 DUI alcohol and combined alcohol/drug cases.
“Prosecution programs ensure drivers who decide to drive impaired and put others on the road at risk are held accountable," OTS Director Barbara Rooney said. “Accountability is important in highlighting the dangers and consequences of driving under the influence.”
Funding for the program was provided by a grant from the California OTS through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.