As we enter the holiday season, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office is ramping up enforcement to protect pedestrians and motorists against impaired and unsafe drivers across the County. The effort is funded by a $400,000 traffic safety grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to reduce serious injuries, prevent roadway deaths, and support traffic safety education throughout San Diego County.

When the Sheriff’s Office applied for the grant, officials cited ongoing traffic issues such as DUI-related crashes, distracted driving, speeding, and e-bike collisions as reasons for needing additional funding. As part of the application, the department had to explain why additional enforcement, training, and community outreach were needed. In a statement to The Palette, Lieutenant Viet Do explained that, “Every year our budgets are shrinking even though the population is growing. This really does help us with traffic enforcement, not just impaired driving, speeding, distracted driving, e-bike safety, a whole multitude of traffic-safety objectives.”

How the Grant Works

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office applies for the OTS grant on an annual basis, competing with law enforcement agencies across California for funding. According to Lieutenant Viet Do, the department has received the grant for the past four to five years, with the amount typically varying around $400,000.

To request the grant, the department submits an application that includes “problem data,” such as crash trends and enforcement statistics, to show why the additional funding is needed. “It’s not like we just say, ‘Hey, give us money,’” Do said. “We have to show the problem and exactly what we’ll use the money for.” 

Unlike traditional grants, this one does not provide money upfront. Instead, the Sheriff’s Office must first complete the tasks outlined in its application and then report the data from those efforts to receive reimbursement. “Everything is accounted for,” Lieutenant Do said. “They want every single statistical metric we can gather … otherwise they won’t reimburse us.” 

How the Funding Will Be Used

The grant supports a wide range of traffic safety efforts throughout the county. Deputies will conduct DUI checkpoints, increased patrols, and enforcement operations targeting speeding and distracted driving. The funding also helps address e-bike safety, which Do said has become a growing concern in communities across San Diego. “It covers a range of traffic-safety priorities,” Do said. “We rely on it to support several safety needs across the county.”

In addition to enforcement, the grant helps cover specialized training and recertification for deputies, including DUI detection, roadside impairment testing, and drug-impaired driving training. Some training can cost thousands of dollars, especially when they are held outside the county, making the grant important for keeping deputies properly trained. “Some of the courses are really expensive … the grant helps us offset our training costs,” Do said.

The grant will also allow the department to host more educational and outreach events at places like beer gardens and large venues where alcohol is served. Additionally, at large outreach events, deputies offer breath tests to the public to spread awareness of impaired driving. “People don’t understand that a couple drinks can put them at that point,” Lieutenant Viet Do said. “They think they’re fine, but their alcohol level is still rising.”

Looking Ahead

The grant-funded traffic safety push will continue through September 2026. As travel and celebrations increase during the holiday season, the Sheriff’s Office says its goal is to reduce crashes, prevent injuries, and keep San Diego County roads safe.