Columbus Accepts State Traffic Safety Grant for Police DUI Interceptor Program
The grant provides funding for officer overtime and supplies to deploy the Mobile Breath Testing Vehicle to roadside traffic stops.
Columbus City Council approved emergency legislation accepting a $381,222.94 grant from the Ohio Traffic Safety Office for the Columbus Division of Police DUI Interceptor program. According to city legislation, the state traffic office works to reduce crashes and injuries, while the municipal program aims to deter impaired driving by assisting officers with roadside processing.
Under the initiative, police deploy the Mobile Breath Testing Vehicle directly to traffic stops involving suspected impaired drivers. By responding to the scene, the mobile unit saves arresting officers time by conducting chemical testing and processing blood search warrants. Conducting tests roadside eliminates the need for officers to transport motorists to a police facility for breath testing, cutting DUI processing time and keeping patrol officers available to answer calls for service.
The Columbus Division of Police originally rolled out the Mobile Breath Testing Vehicle on March 15, 2023, as part of its Operating a Vehicle Impaired Countermeasures Program. Funding for the agreement depends on federal funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation for federal fiscal year 2027, covering Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2027.
The agreement authorizes reimbursement for the overtime and supplies costs of sworn personnel working in the program. The legislation states that emergency legislation was necessary to make funds available for the grant funded activity period that started Oct. 1, 2026, and for upcoming events where the vehicle will be in use.
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Supporting evidence (8)
Columbus City Council approved emergency legislation accepting a $381,222.94 grant from the Ohio Traffic Safety Office for the Columbus Division of Police DUI Interceptor program.
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EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency legislation is necessary to make funds available for the grant funded activity period that started October 1, 2026, and for upcoming events where the MBTV will be in use.
Columbus City Council approved emergency legislation accepting a $381,222.94 grant from the Ohio Traffic Safety Office for the Columbus Division of Police DUI Interceptor program.
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BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS: SECTION 1. That the Director of Public Safety is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with the Ohio Traffic Safety Office, State of Ohio, and to accept an award in the amount of $381,222.94, which represents funding for the DUI Interceptor Program - FFY27.
According to city legislation, the state traffic office works to reduce crashes and injuries, while the municipal program aims to deter impaired driving by assisting officers with roadside processing.
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The OTSO works to reduce high traffic related crashes to save lives and reduce injuries and economic loss. This program will deter impaired driving, with the use of The Division of Police’s DUI Interceptor, Mobile Breath Testing Vehicle (MBTV), by assisting in the processing of impaired drivers by responding to the scene of suspected impaired drivers by saving the arresting officer time in processing blood search warrants and chemical testing.
Under the initiative, police deploy the Mobile Breath Testing Vehicle directly to traffic stops involving suspected impaired drivers.
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WHEREAS, the Division of Police will work overtime on a program to target impaired driving, with the use of The Division of Police’s DUI Interceptor, Mobile Breath Testing Vehicle (MBTV), by assisting in the processing of impaired drivers by responding to the scene of suspected impaired drivers by saving the arresting officer time in processing blood search warrants and chemical testing; and,
By responding to the scene, the mobile unit saves arresting officers time by conducting chemical testing and processing blood search warrants.
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by assisting in the processing of impaired drivers by responding to the scene of suspected impaired drivers by saving the arresting officer time in processing blood search warrants and chemical testing.
Funding for the agreement depends on federal funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation for federal fiscal year 2027, covering Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2027.
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The funding for the agreement is dependent on federal funds from the US Department of Transportation for Federal Fiscal Year 2027 and follows the fiscal year period, October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
The agreement authorizes reimbursement for the overtime and supplies costs of sworn personnel working in the program.
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The agreement authorizes reimbursement for the overtime and supplies/materials costs of sworn personnel working in the program.
The legislation states that emergency legislation was necessary to make funds available for the grant funded activity period that started Oct. 1, 2026, and for upcoming events where the vehicle will be in use.
Read supporting passage
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency legislation is necessary to make funds available for the grant funded activity period that started October 1, 2026, and for upcoming events where the MBTV will be in use.
Supporting evidence (2)
Conducting tests roadside eliminates the need for officers to transport motorists to a police facility for breath testing, cutting DUI processing time and keeping patrol officers available to answer calls for service.
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The DUI Interceptor will assist officers roadside in the field, processing suspected DUI drivers on the spot. The vehicle's capabilities eliminate the need for officers to transport an impaired driver to a police facility to conduct a breath test, thereby reducing the time it takes for DUI processing and giving police more time to answer patrol calls for service.
The Columbus Division of Police originally rolled out the Mobile Breath Testing Vehicle on March 15, 2023, as part of its Operating a Vehicle Impaired Countermeasures Program.
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As part of its OVI (Operating a Vehicle Impaired) Countermeasures Program, the Columbus Division of Police announced today that it has officially launched a mobile breath testing vehicle program, called the DUI Interceptor. The vehicle, which was provided through a grant, will patrol the streets of Columbus and surrounding areas starting March 15, 2023.