City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: SEPTEMBER 23, 2015
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Renewal Grant to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles for an Aggressive Driving/DUI Interdiction Program in FY 2016.
BODY
ISSUE: Consideration of a grant to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for an aggressive driving and driving under the influence (DUI) interdiction program.
RECOMMENDATIONS: That City Council:
(1) Accept the grant from the Virginia DMV in the amount of $30,375, which will provide funds to the Police Department to operate a DUI/aggressive driving interdiction program in the City; and
(2) Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents that may be required.
BACKGROUND: For the past seventeen years the City has obtained a grant under this program to allow the Police Department to pay overtime for police officers to conduct high intensity patrol operations, targeting aggressive drivers whose behavior contributed statistically to automobile crashes and unsafe driving complaints. The targeted behaviors included right-of-way violations, stop sign violations, speeding and following too closely. In FY 2015, the approved grant was for $30,325.
DISCUSSION: The new grant request is for $30,375 for Federal FY 2016 (October 1, 2015 through September 30, 2016). The Police Department requests $28,000 for overtime operations to combat aggressive driving and DUI violations. If approved, the Police Department will employ police officers on overtime status to deploy mobile and stationary patrols as methods to reduce the number of alcohol and aggressive driving related accidents in the City.
The Police Department also requests $1,875 for five Alco-Sensors and $500 for regional crash investigation and DUI enforcement training. The Alco-Sensors allow an officer to determine a person’s blood alcohol content as part of the preliminary investigation for DUI offenses.
FISCAL IMPACT: To receive the DMV grant of $30,375, the City must identify 20 percent matching funds, which may be in-kind. Since the City’s share is an in-kind match of resources, there is no additional fiscal impact to the City in obtaining the grant. The proposed match is identified in the Police Department’s operating budget for vehicle depreciation and maintenance costs. Notification is expected in September 2015.
STAFF:
Earl Cook, Police Chief
Donald Hayes, Captain, Police, Sector Two Commander
Brenda D’Sylva, Division Chief, Police, Fiscal Management