Yesterday, the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, awarded funding to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office for their DUI Training and Prosecution Section (DTAPS). As expressed by District Attorney George Gascón, this grant is instrumental in combating impaired driving, and it will enable law enforcement and deputy district attorneys to effectively investigate and prosecute DUI cases, according to the news release.
DTAPS, established in 2016, has focused on training law enforcement personnel and deputy district attorneys to manage alcohol and drug-related traffic offenses effectively. The department's initiatives aim to reduce fatalities and injuries related to impaired driving through rigorous enforcement and educational strategies.
The funding from OTS will contribute to enhancing the resources and training available to law enforcement agencies. This will increase the number of certified Drug Recognition Experts (DREs) in Los Angeles County. DREs possess the professional competence to understand and express the various impacts of drug-induced impairment on driving. Their ability to make these evaluations greatly aids the prosecution of DUI and impaired driving cases.
The OTS will fund, as part of the grant, a DRE through the District Attorney's Bureau of Investigation. This expert will provide instrumental guidance to deputy district attorneys in the DTAPS for DUI-related prosecutions.
