Temecula will receive $188,000 for DUI checkpoints, distracted-driving patrols and traffic safety programs under a new state grant awarded to the Riverside County Sheriff's Office.

The Sheriff's Office announced Monday, Oct. 26, that it received $1,442,000 from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to fund enforcement and education programs across 15 contract cities in Riverside County, according to a department news release. The grant runs through September 2027 and is funded through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Temecula's share is the largest among the 15 cities. Moreno Valley follows closely at $187,696.

What the money pays for

The grant will fund several types of operations in participating cities:

  • DUI checkpoints and patrols targeting suspected impaired drivers
  • Distracted-driving enforcement focused on California's hands-free cell phone law
  • Operations targeting speeding, red-light running, failure to yield and improper lane changes
  • Enforcement aimed at protecting pedestrians and cyclists
  • Community presentations on traffic safety topics
  • Officer training to detect impaired drivers, including Drug Recognition Expert certification

Sr. Administrative Services Analyst Sally Lopez said in the release that the grant will strengthen traffic enforcement and road safety efforts. "Our goal is to reduce dangerous driving behaviors, prevent crashes, and make our roads safer for everyone," Lopez said.

OTS Director Stephanie Dougherty said the grant supports both enforcement and community education to address speeding, distraction and impairment behind the wheel.

How Temecula compares

Among the 15 cities sharing the grant, allocations range from $12,908 for Calimesa to Temecula's $188,000. Nearby cities also received funding: Wildomar was allocated $45,066 and Lake Elsinore received $117,048. Murrieta does not appear on the list.

The Sheriff's Office did not explain how individual city amounts were determined. The 15 city allocations total roughly $1.27 million of the $1.44 million grant. The release does not specify how the remaining funds will be used.

No start date for enforcement operations in Temecula was included in the announcement.