Logo courtesy of Sutter County

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) – The Sutter County Board of Supervisors approved accepting more than $212,000 in state grant funding to expand impaired driving enforcement and education efforts throughout the county.

The board approved a $212,225.48 budget adjustment and accepted funding through the California Highway Patrol Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program. The action also authorized the Sheriff's Office to enter into the grant agreement and purchase a Simulated Impaired Driving Experience Go-Kart and a Sheriff DUI Message Trailer.

The agency applied for the funding in February and received notification of the award in July.

Sheriff-Coroner Brandon Barnes requested the funding to support a broad effort aimed at reducing impaired driving crashes, increasing public awareness about the dangers of impaired driving and improving roadway safety throughout Sutter County. The grant requires no matching county funds, officials said.

The board's action also added the two grant-funded purchases to the Sheriff's Office capital asset listing. The SIDNE go-kart is designed to simulate the effects of impaired driving as an educational tool, while the portable DUI message board trailer will be used to support impaired driving prevention efforts.

Budget documents show the grant will fund approximately $90,925 in overtime, $20,300 in DUI education materials and supplies, $95,000 for the two equipment purchases and $6,000 for other equipment. Grant revenues fully offset the expenditures, officials said.

The Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program is administered by the California Highway Patrol and is intended to support projects that reduce impaired driving, strengthen enforcement efforts and increase public education about the dangers of driving under the influence. According to the Sheriff's Office, the project is designed as a comprehensive approach to addressing impaired driving in Sutter County through both enforcement and prevention.