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Mountain View is looking to reduce the number of traffic collisions involving alcohol and drug impaired drivers after receiving a $315,000 grant from the state to increase police enforcement efforts.
The award comes from the state’s Cannabis Tax Fund Grant program, which was established in 2016 with the passage of Proposition 64 that legalized the recreational use of marijuana by adults 21 years and older.
The city plans to purchase three police vehicles for alcohol and drug enforcement with the grant money, according to a June 24 council report. It also plans to fund police overtime associated with DUI and DUID offenses.
The City Council is expected to vote on the award as a consent item at their Tuesday, June 24 meeting.
Last year, there were 357 reported vehicle collisions in Mountain View, with 19% involving drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Police arrested 352 motorists for DUI and DUID offenses, according to the council report.
In January, an impaired driver struck and killed a pedestrian in a hit and run traffic collision near Shoreline Amphitheatre. The driver had a blood alcohol level over twice the legal limit, according to the council report.
The grant is intended to enhance enforcement efforts to reduce traffic collisions, the report said.
In addition to state funding, the city also has a source of local tax revenue from cannabis sales. In 2018, Mountain View voters overwhelmingly passed Measure Q, establishing a local tax of up to 9% on all cannabis sales. At the time, officials said it would generate about $1 million annually for the city’s general fund.
But the revenue has been far less than anticipated. The tax generated $15,000 last fiscal year and is estimated to bring in $43,000 this year, according to the city’s 2025-26 budget report.
