Laxalt Secures Office of Traffic Safety

Attorney General Laxalt Secures Office of Traffic Safety Grant to Provide Alcohol or Drug-Impaired Driving Training to Nevada Law Enforcement

Nevada Attorney General Adam Paul Laxalt announced that the Office of the Nevada Attorney General has received an Office of Traffic Safety grant through the Nevada Department of Public Safety. The $80,000 grant will allow the Office of the Nevada Attorney General to provide intense and specialized DUI training to law enforcement agencies on the aspects of DUI arrests that impact how or whether the case successfully moves through the judicial system.

As a result of the secured grant, the Office of the Nevada Attorney General will continue its support of the Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor to provide technical assistance and specialized DUI training to law enforcement on alcohol and drugged-driving arrests. The Office of the Nevada Attorney General has been working with local law enforcement to transition this Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor position into a more permanent role within the Washoe County District Attorney’s Office for sustainability.  The transition is anticipated to be completed by late 2019.

“As always, the safety of members of our community is a top priority for my office,” said Attorney General Adam Laxalt. “Two years ago, we hired a rural Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor who trained more than 130 law enforcement officers and over 100 prosecutors in the field of alcohol or drug-impaired driving. This grant will allow our office to continue to make a difference in our communities.”

“My office is pleased to have the support of this initiative, spearheaded by Attorney General Laxalt,” said Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks. “Far too many tragedies on our roadways are caused by impaired drivers and these funds will greatly assist in holding offenders accountable.  We will continue to focus on innovative ways to improve the safety of our communities and our response to DUI cases.”

The Office of the Nevada Attorney General will work in conjunction with Nevada’s Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor to increase the knowledge of alcohol or drug-impaired driving offenses for law enforcement through six training opportunities either in-person or via webinar. The trainings will provide an overview of the basics of impaired driving investigations; the administration and interpretation of the standardized field sobriety tests in relation to drug-impaired driving investigations and breath and blood toxicology; and court room procedures and testimony; rules of evidence and courtroom testimony; drug-impaired driving and search warrants; mock trial for law enforcement; courtroom testimony and common legal issues. Two trainings will also be offered to law enforcement officers geared toward improving performance and preparation in DUI cases that may go to court which may improve the outcome of the DUI arrests. Additionally, the Office of the Nevada Attorney General will increase technical assistance and provide subject matter expertise and support to training opportunities provided by the Office of Traffic Safety, such as Drug Recognition Experts and Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement courses offered to law enforcement.

Since October 1, 2016, the Office of the Nevada Attorney General has been awarded a total of $324,790 in Office of Traffic Safety funding. Previously funded projects have enhanced the ability of Nevada’s prosecutors to effectively evaluate and prosecute DUI and DUI-related vehicular homicide cases and supported the provision of customized training, technical assistance and support for Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Esmeralda, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, Storey, Washoe, and White Pine Counties.