Marin County District Attorney's Office Awarded DUI Prosecution Grant

October 22, 2019

Marin County District Attorney's Office Awarded DUI Prosecution Grant

  San Rafael, California – 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, approximately 1028 drivers have been arrested for driving under the influence in Marin County.

 "The DUI Vertical Prosecution Grant has provided the Marin County District Attorney's 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.  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."  (District Attorney Lori Frugoli.)

 Grant funding will be used to continue our 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 Marin County District Attorney's Office has received funding from the OTS for a DUI prosecution program.  During the last grant year, the prosecution team filed approximately 1256 DUI cases, including 152 DUI drug cases, and 1104 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 this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.