Law enforcement’s needs regarding DUI infractions have changed due to increased emphasis on the use of portable breath-testing devices.

The demand for the devices countywide continues to grow; there’s been a yearly increase in the number of breath tests collected in Ventura County. With the assistance of the California Office of Traffic Safety, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department Forensic Services Bureau created a roadside evidential breathtesting program.

Building on the successes achieved in recent years, the Sheriff’s Department Forensic Sciences Laboratory will bring more evidential roadside breath testing instrumentation to the county. 

New equipment purchases and a Web-based data management system will be provided throughout the county as a result of a recent $790,000 grant. Funding for the grant comes from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Updated technology will increase the number of available instruments and continue to aid all county law enforcement agencies in their efforts to deal with traffic safety and reduce the number of people killed and injured in traffic collisions because of impaired drivers. 

“Catching drunk drivers is essential to keeping Ventura County streets safe,” said Christopher J. Murphy, director of the California Office of Traffic Safety.

“This equipment helps ensure that offenders are successfully prosecuted.”

The grant activities will specifically target the timely release of breath testing information and documentation through userfriendly electronic means.

This grant also funds a forensic scientist position and supports the training of laboratory staff and overtime to support the new program and its implementation.