The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) is offering two grant opportunities aimed at enhancing the capabilities of local agencies in addressing driving under the influence (DUI) and driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) incidents. The first grant targets Crime Laboratories, while the second is directed toward Medical Examiners/Coroner’s Offices and Law Enforcement Coroner’s Divisions. Both grants have a performance period from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027.
The primary objective of these grants is to improve and standardize practices within toxicology crime laboratories and coroner's offices. For crime laboratories, the focus is on supporting DUI/DUID projects to aid in enforcing traffic laws related to impaired driving, including those involving alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs. For medical examiners and coroner's offices, the goal is to enhance data collection in cases where a death occurs involving a motor vehicle, whether the deceased was a driver, rider, or pedestrian.
Funding provided through these grants is intended to support initiatives that advance the standardization of toxicology practices and improve data collection related to DUI/DUID cases. This may include the acquisition of new equipment, implementation of advanced testing methodologies, training for personnel, and other activities that contribute to more effective enforcement and data accuracy in impaired driving cases.
Eligible applicants for the Crime Laboratories grant include local government entities, specifically California county and city crime laboratories. For the Medical Examiners/Coroner’s Offices grant, eligible applicants are local government entities, including California county medical examiners, coroner’s offices, and law enforcement coroner’s divisions. These grants are designed to support agencies directly involved in the analysis and investigation of impaired driving incidents.
Applicants are required to submit proposals detailing how the grant funds will be utilized to achieve the program's objectives. While specific submission requirements and application questions are not provided in the available information, applicants should be prepared to outline their project plans, including goals, methodologies, and anticipated outcomes. Additionally, they should demonstrate how their proposals align with the grant's purpose of improving DUI/DUID enforcement and data collection.
Evaluation criteria for these grants will likely include the clarity and feasibility of the proposed project, the potential impact on improving DUI/DUID enforcement and data collection, and the applicant's capacity to effectively implement the project within the specified performance period. Applicants should ensure that their proposals are comprehensive and clearly demonstrate the expected benefits of their initiatives.
The project performance period for both grants is two years, beginning on July 1, 2025, and concluding on June 30, 2027. Applicants should plan their project timelines accordingly to ensure that all activities can be completed within this timeframe. It is advisable to consult the Request for Applications (RFA) documents for detailed information on application deadlines and other important dates to ensure timely submission of proposals.
