Costa Mesa city officials have accepted a grant from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to fund expanded operations aimed at curbing driving under the influence (DUI). On September 1, the Costa Mesa City Council voted unanimously to accept just over $92,000 from the CHP’s Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program. This funding will support the police department’s ongoing targeted operations against DUIs.
According to police officials, Costa Mesa is receiving this grant for the second time, with the CHP’s approval based on the city's identified high prevalence of DUIs. The grant will support two primary initiatives: the “Know Your Limit” program and increased police saturation patrols.
The “Know Your Limit” program involves police officers visiting local bars, with bar owners opting into the program. Officers then ask patrons if they believe they are within a safe and legal blood alcohol level to drive. Patrons who volunteer are then offered breathalyzer tests to verify their assessment. Police spokesperson Roxi Fyad stated that these tests are voluntary and serve as educational tools, not enforcement actions. Fyad explained, "It’s not to enforce. It’s just for educational purposes."
This educational program has been conducted by the Costa Mesa Police Department since the beginning of the year. Prior to securing its first cannabis tax grant, Costa Mesa officers collaborated with Huntington Beach’s "Know Your Limit" program to gain experience. The initial grant subsequently funded three "Know Your Limit" campaigns this year. The program operates as a collaborative effort between participating local bars and the police department.
In addition to the “Know Your Limit” events, the grant will fund 40 DUI saturation patrols. These operations involve officers in marked police units whose primary objective is to proactively identify driving behaviors indicative of alcohol or drug impairment, aiming to remove impaired drivers from the road before collisions occur.
Other Orange County cities, including Fullerton, Huntington Beach, Orange, Irvine, Laguna Beach, and Santa Ana, along with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, are also slated to receive portions of the total $41 million grant from the CHP’s Cannabis Tax Fund.
Costa Mesa Mayor John Stephens expressed his full support for accepting the grant, acknowledging the Costa Mesa Police Department’s efforts in maintaining safe streets from intoxicated drivers. While the Mayor noted that the funding would reimburse the city for some existing work, he stated he has not observed a positive change directly attributable to programs such as “Know Your Limit.” When asked about potential additional educational efforts regarding drug-related DUIs, Mayor Stephens indicated he did not know what more could be done. He commented that officers are consistently seeking creative and innovative approaches to enhance community safety.
The accepted grant ensures that Costa Mesa police officers will soon be implementing these voluntary breathalyzer tests at bars and conducting additional DUI saturation patrols across the city.
