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File photo
The county of Los Angeles is in line to receive $1.1 million in federal funding (via the state) and another $1.419 million from UC Berkeley for DUI checkpoints and other traffic safety measures in the unincorporated county areas for the current fiscal year.
The county supervisors are scheduled Tuesday to authorize Sheriff Lee Baca to execute the necessary paperwork.
Each year, the county receives funding for this purpose from the state Office of Traffic Safety. The UC Berkeley funding stems from a similar grant of federal funds awarded by the state to the University of California system.
According to a staff report from Baca:
“The main purpose and goals of the program will be to reduce the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol-involved and drug-involved traffic collisions, and reduce the number of hit-and-run fatality and injury collisions.
“The program will involve Driving Under the Influence (DUI) saturation patrols, distracted driving, traffic enforcement (based on primary collision factor violations), motorcycle safety, red light enforcement, and speed enforcement operations. Law enforcement personnel working under the grant will participate in the National Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April 2014, the Statewide “Click It or Ticket” mobilization period in May 2014, and the Mothers Against Drunk Driving/Avoid DUI Seminars, as well as collaborate with the County’s “Avoid Coalition” to participate in the planning and scheduling of all meetings related to the grant.
“The $1.1 million in grant funding will be used to fund Salaries and Employee Benefits for one bonus deputy position funded at 100 percent who administers the grant, overtime salaries for personnel working under the grant, and Services and Supplies to include travel and training, preliminary alcohol screening devices, and calibration supplies. It is anticipated that the grant will be modified in the near future to fund a sergeant position in lieu of the bonus deputy position, with no change to the total grant amount.”
If we need local DUI checkpoints then the County should pay for it and not the taxpayers in Sioux City nor UC Berkeley .