The Office of Traffic Safety honored Matt De Moura for his work on the Avoid 8 Program
(Woodland, CA) – (Woodland, CA) – April 25, 2014 – Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig announced that yesterday the California Office of Traffic Safety, OTS, honored Deputy District Attorney Matt De Moura for his work on the “AVOID the 8” program. De Moura received his award at a Greater Sacramento Regional MADD luncheon in Sacramento where members of law enforcement from numerous police agencies were honored for their work in combatting DUIs. De Moura was the only prosecutor honored.
“AVOID the 8” is an OTS grant program specifically intended to create coordinated regional traffic enforcement teams to conduct saturation patrols, sobriety checkpoints, DUI enforcement and holiday traffic enforcement and public information campaigns. Many local law enforcement agencies across the state participate in the AVOID program. Currently, 42 counties in California have AVOID programs. Davis Police Department Sgt. Rod Rifredi leads Yolo County’s program.
Earlier this year, OTS awarded the District Attorney’s Office grant funding for prevention, education and enforcement in DUI cases. This OTS funding originates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The purpose of the program is to prevent impaired driving and reduce alcohol and drug-impaired traffic fatalities and injuries. In 2012 and 2013, there were seven deaths and 36 injuries as a result of DUI crashes in the County. The grant funds the DA’s Vertical Prosecution Unit, allowing one prosecutor to handle a case through all stages of the criminal process, from the time of the arrest through sentencing. The team assists law enforcement in the investigation of fatal and major injury collisions. Additionally, the team works closely with Yolo County school districts to provide training and educational programs on the dangers of driving under the influence.
The DUI team, led by De Moura, has been coordinating trainings with officers of law enforcement agencies throughout the County. Additionally, the team been working with our local school districts to provide training to teachers and staff so they can identify drug signs and symptoms.
One Woodland Joint Unified School District employee who attended a training expressed her appreciation. “I have been in public education for well over 20 years and this was one of the best classes I have attended. It is real information that is current and information we desperately need to keep our students safe and informed.” More trainings will be offered throughout the County’s school districts in the coming months.
In addition to De Moura, several Yolo County peace officers were recognized for their efforts in combating impaired driving. Officers from Davis, UC Davis, West Sacramento, and Woodland received awards for leading their agencies in DUI arrests.
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