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-Editorial
The Imperial County District Attorney’s Office has been awarded a $226,500 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to strengthen the prosecution of alcohol- and drug-impaired driving cases, a persistent public safety challenge on local and statewide roadways. The grant will fund a specialized prosecution team through September 2026, reinforcing efforts to hold impaired drivers accountable and reduce preventable traffic injuries and fatalities across Imperial County.
District Attorney George Marquez welcomed the funding, emphasizing its role in protecting the community. “We are grateful for this grant, which will allow us to focus specifically on holding individuals accountable for impaired driving and making the roads in our community safer for everyone,” Marquez said. “Impaired driving remains a significant danger on our roads, particularly for drivers suspected of operating a vehicle under the influence of both alcohol and drugs. This funding strengthens our commitment to improving road safety and making sure justice is served effectively and efficiently.”
The grant supports a dedicated prosecution team that handles driving under the influence (DUI) cases involving alcohol, drugs, or a combination of both. In addition to courtroom work, the team will collaborate with the statewide Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor Training Program (TSRP), providing specialized training to prosecutors and investigators while working closely with local and regional law enforcement agencies. These partnerships are designed to improve case management, evidence handling, and prosecution strategies in increasingly complex DUI cases, particularly those involving drug impairment.
State officials say these efforts are essential to reducing traffic-related deaths and injuries. “Through focused prosecution efforts and strong partnerships, we are working toward a future where all people will be safe on California roads,” said OTS Director Stephanie Dougherty. “Together, we’re holding impaired drivers accountable and encouraging safe, responsible choices that help build a culture where safety comes first.”
This marks the third consecutive year the Imperial County District Attorney’s Office has received OTS funding for a specialized DUI prosecution program. The continued investment reflects both the scale of the problem and the county’s demonstrated use of prior grants. In the most recent year of funding, the specialized team filed 770 DUI cases, including 64 drug-related DUI cases and 16 cases involving combined alcohol and drug impairment. Those figures highlight a growing trend statewide: while alcohol remains the most common factor, drug-impaired and polysubstance driving cases are becoming more frequent and more complex to prosecute.
The importance of this grant is particularly significant for Imperial County, a largely rural region with long travel distances, agricultural traffic, and major state highways that see heavy cross-border and commercial use. Rural counties consistently experience higher traffic fatality rates than urban areas, in part due to higher speeds, longer emergency response times, and limited transportation alternatives. According to statewide data from the California Office of Traffic Safety, alcohol-related crashes resulted in 1,355 fatalities in 2023, accounting for a substantial share of all traffic deaths. While that number represented a slight decrease from the previous year, impaired driving remains one of the leading causes of fatal crashes.
State traffic records further show that in 2024 an estimated 26,361 crashes involved alcohol, while approximately 2,271 were linked to drug impairment. These crashes affect not only drivers, but also passengers, pedestrians, and bicyclists, expanding the human and economic toll well beyond those behind the wheel. Although final county-level figures for 2024 are still being compiled, Imperial County has historically reported DUI collision rates that exceed the statewide average, reinforcing the need for sustained enforcement and prosecution efforts.
Traffic safety officials stress that the risk increases dramatically when alcohol and drugs are combined. Impairment affects reaction time, judgment, and coordination, making mixed-substance cases among the most dangerous on the road. Prosecuting these cases often requires advanced toxicology evidence, expert testimony, and specialized legal training—resources that smaller counties may struggle to fund without state support.
Funding for the Imperial County program is provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Beyond enforcement, officials note that these grants play a preventative role by sending a clear message: impaired driving will be taken seriously, and accountability will follow.
As Imperial County continues to balance growth, cross-border travel, and rural infrastructure challenges, investments like this grant are critical. Safer roads mean fewer families affected by loss or injury, reduced strain on emergency and medical services, and stronger public confidence in the justice system. While no single program can eliminate impaired driving, sustained funding, collaboration, and vigilance remain essential tools in saving lives and making the county’s roads safer for everyone
