KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
County law enforcement officials are looking to reduce the average of more than two people killed each week in L.A. County alone due to DUI crashes
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The county’s District Attorney’s Office opened a new investigative unit focused on training law enforcement personnel on the investigation and prosecution of drunken driving and driving under the influences of substances.
The passage of Prop 64, which legalized recreational marijuana, created new challenges for law enforcement, said District Attorney Jackie Lacey
“With the legalization of marijuana in California, we in law enforcement must be prepared to aggressively investigate and prosecute vehicular deaths and injuries caused by impaired drivers,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey said. “It is still a crime for any person to get behind the wheel while under the influence of drugs — whether legally obtained or not.”
The District Attorney’s Office is taking a leadership role in making sure that local law enforcement personnel and deputy district attorneys are trained to successfully investigate and prosecute what is expected to be a new wave of driving under the influence of drug cases, according to officials.
More than 6,600 injuries were suspected to be caused by driving under the influence, according to the most recent statistics available, for 2015.
The office’s new DUI Training and Prosecution Section will assist law enforcement personnel and prosecutors in determining whether drugs played a role in serious or fatal traffic collisions and the type and quantity of evidence needed to support a successful prosecution. Deputy district attorneys assigned to the unit also will consult with prosecutors on trial strategies and tactics.
The program is funded by a $858,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It aims to prevent impaired driving and reduce alcohol and drug-related fatalities and injuries.
“When there is a trained, seasoned and committed team working serious DUI cases, prosecutors get the positive results needed,” said Rhonda Craft, director of the OTS. “The Office of Traffic Safety and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office will be working together to help keep the streets and highways safe across Los Angeles County and the state.”
