LAKE COUNTY — The District Attorney”s office recently received a grant of $240,241 to fund a vertical prosecution team that will work arrests related to Driving Under the Influence (DUI).
The purpose of the program is to prevent impaired driving and reduced alcohol and drug-impaired traffic fatalities and injuries, according to Lake County DA Don Anderson. In 2012 there were two deaths and 17 serious injuries as a result of DUI crashes in Lake County.
The grant came from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, according to Anderson.
“Those arrested for driving under the influence in Lake County, especially repeat offenders and those involved in fatal or injury accidents, can expect to face highly trained and specialized prosecutors,” Anderson stated.
The new prosecution team will handle cases throughout each step of the criminal process, prosecuting both alcohol and drug-impaired driving cases, Anderson stated. In fatal and major injury DUI vehicle crashes, members of the team will start by going to the crash scene to be part of the investigation.
The prosecution team members will work with the State Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor Program by obtaining and delivering specialized training, including training in drug-impaired driving, Anderson stated. Team members will share information with peers and law enforcement personnel throughout the county and across the state.
