City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto's office announced the receipt of a significant financial boost to combat impaired driving on California's roadways. Over $1.2 million has been granted by the state's Office of Traffic Safety as part of their ongoing initiative to enhance public safety through diligent prosecution of DUI cases.
The Driving Under the Influence of Drugs Unit (DUID) within the Criminal Branch of the City Attorney's office will be the primary beneficiary of this "Impaired Driving Prosecution Grant," which is sourced from California's OTS through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. "We have the power to protect lives, prevent tragedies before they happen, and hold violators accountable. This grant will help us do all three," Hydee Feldstein Soto told the City Attorney's website. This marks the 13th consecutive occasion that the City Attorney’s Office has been awarded this substantial funding.
Stephanie Dougherty, the OTS Director, weighed in on the importance of this grant to public safety, underscoring the risk posed by impaired drivers. "If you drink or use drugs and decide to drive, you put lives at risk,” OTS Director Stephanie Dougherty warned. “This funding from the OTS will help to prevent the tragic consequences of impaired driving and create safer roads for Everyone."
The grant ensures the City Attorney's team, which comprises nearly 1,000 legal professionals and over 500 attorneys, can continue its vital work in prosecuting DUI offences. With these funds, not only will specialist DUI prosecutors be able to keep up their battle at the forefront, but they'll also have the backing of an administrative coordinator, proving essential. Moreover, the DUID team is set to collaborate with California’s Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor Training Program, providing training to law enforcement and fellow prosecutors in best practices for handling DUI litigation, according to the City Attorney’s website.
OTS doesn't limit its dedication to just grants for prosecution. It invests more than $100 million annually into a myriad of proven education and enforcement programs, and also sponsors emerging technologies that aim to raise the bar on road safety in California. To get a glimpse into their overarching educational campaign, "Go Safely, California," in collaboration with Caltrans, one can visit their dedicated website for further details. Hydee Feldstein Soto, elected as Los Angeles' 43rd City Attorney and its first female holder of the office since December 2022, will oversee the implementation of this new wave of funding to help ensure the streets of L.A. remain a safer place for all its denizens.
