San Diego County Sheriff’s Office receives $543,000 grant to enhance DUI testing capabilities

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office has received a nearly $543,000 grant from the state’s Office of Traffic Safety. This funding will support two new criminalist positions and overtime costs at the Regional Crime Laboratory. The lab tested 7,500 blood samples from suspected DUI drivers over the past year, with an average blood-alcohol content exceeding twice the legal limit. The grant will also help bring drug toxicology testing in-house, which is expected to start in January. This year’s grant is about $25,000 more than last year’s funding. Previous grants have focused on enhancing testing capabilities through new equipment and training.