The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Services Division, a nationally accredited crime laboratory, has received a competitive one-year grant totaling $170,000 to help improve roadway safety by strengthening efforts to detect impaired driving.
The funding, provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, will support the division’s testing program for alcohol- and drug-related driving under the influence cases.
Grant funds will be used to purchase new equipment to enhance the analysis of alcohol and other volatile substances, as well as supplies needed to expand testing for illegal, prescription, and over-the-counter drugs commonly associated with DUI cases. The program is funded through September 2026.
“This grant will improve testing capabilities, analysis, and turnaround times at the Forensic Services Division,” Contra Costa County Sheriff David Livingston said. “Faster results will benefit county law enforcement agencies and prosecutors while enhancing public safety.”
Ok? $170,000 buys one maybe two pieces of equipment….. please spend this on something that matters.
I do not know if anyone watches “contraband seized at the border” but that Thremo Gemini (used for identifying drugs) is right around $70K. So….. you can only bet this tech will be similar.
alternate headline: State Grant Allows Cops to Temporarily Do Their Jobs
$170K …. how much to red tape, then political pet projects, then a buck 95 to the real efforts
Give me the 170k and make everyone put their phone in the glove box and set speed traps. Problem solved stop speeding and distracted driving.
Speed traps are illegal in California.
JS,
You are correct.
Now, for extra credit, define a California speed trap.
It amazes me how an agency that doesn’t even handle traffic issues (CHP handles traffic in unincorporated areas) can get a $170,000 grant “to help improve roadway safety by strengthening efforts to detect impaired driving.” And, it is even further confusing how the Forensic Services Division, whose members don’t even work in the field, could be chosen. Sounds like a waste of money to me! We need Elon and DOGE to look this one over!!
If they were serious about improving highway safety, they would remove all carpool and toll lanes. They make the roads more dangerous and do nothing to help the environment.