RIVERSIDE – A proven program targeting drug-impaired driving in Riverside County will continue for another year with renewed grant funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety, approved by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors.

The $970,000 grant to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office reflects a $27,541 increase (3%) from last year and continues to fund a vertical prosecution team of four Deputy District Attorneys dedicated to handling driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) cases. This team manages cases from arrest through prosecution and sentencing, ensuring consistency and accountability throughout the process.

Since the OTS expanded its grant funding to include county-wide DUID cases in 2014, the conviction rate of DUID drivers in Riverside County has more than doubled, demonstrating the effectiveness of this prosecution model.

While alcohol remains the primary factor in most DUI crashes, the DA’s Office continues to support OTS’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness that DUI also includes driving while impaired by prescription medications, marijuana, or other drugs.

As part of the grant, the prosecution team will continue working with the Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor Training Network to expand expertise across the office through specialized training focused on the growing issue of drug-impaired driving. Team members will also share knowledge and best practices with law enforcement and prosecution peers throughout the county and state.

The grant was approved by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 21, 2025, and runs through Sept. 30, 2026.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.