District Attorney Awarded Grant to Prosecute DUI
For the second straight year, District Attorney Tim Ward is pleased to announce the award of a $117,546 California Office of Traffic Safety Grant to help prosecute cases of driving under the influence. The grant will continue to fund a Vertical Prosecution team, primarily for felony DUI with injury cases, as well as attorney training. The Vertical Prosecution model allows a prosecutor to see the case through start to finish.
“Vertical prosecution teams help keep streets safe by taking people off the road who ignore the law and driveimpaired,” said OTS Director Rhonda Craft. “Driving under the influence is a crime that will not be tolerated.Funding the prosecution of individuals who put lives at risk is one of many ways we are working to educate the public on the dangers and consequences of driving under the influence.”
Under the 2017 – 2018 Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driver Vertical Prosecution Program grant, the DUI prosecutor filed over 400 cases of felony and misdemeanor DUI. Over 2,200 total DUI cases were filed by the office during the same time period. Two cases of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and two cases of DUI murder were also filed in which five victims lost their lives.
“We are again appreciative of the Office of Traffic Safety for recognizing the need for these funds in our area,” said District Attorney Tim Ward. “We will continue to aggressively prosecute these cases. With all the safe options out there to get home safe, there’s no excuse to drive under the influence. If you see DUI on the road, call 911.”
In recent years, California has seen an increase in drug-impaired driving crashes. The OTS is reminding the publicthat “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” If you take prescription drugs, particularly those with a driving or operating machinery warning on the label, you might be impaired enough to get a DUI. Marijuana use can also be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs, and can result in a DUI arrest and conviction.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare Assistant District Attorney Dave Alavezos (559) 636-5494