The Moraga Police Department landed a $165,998 state grant to fight impaired driving after DUI arrests in town nearly doubled over three years.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) awarded the Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program funding for fiscal year 2026-27, according to the town’s Aug. 26 staff report. Moraga was notified June 30 that it had received the full amount it requested.
The grant will pay for a new patrol vehicle outfitted with DUI enforcement equipment and exterior signage. It will also cover officer overtime for targeted DUI enforcement in addition to regular patrol shifts, along with enforcement training courses, according to the Lamorinda Weekly report.
Lt. Steve Borbely led the effort to secure the funding.
Police Chief Jon King made the case for the grant in an Aug. 26 staff report to the town.
"The number of DUI arrests in Moraga nearly doubled between 2022 and 2025 … while there were no reported accidents involving DUI drivers in 2022, there were eight DUI-related accidents in 2025," King wrote.
The Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program grew out of Proposition 64, the 2016 ballot measure that legalized recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older. The law reduced criminal penalties for certain marijuana offenses and authorized resentencing for prior eligible convictions, according to the California courts. It also created the grant program to allocate funds to local governments for reducing impaired-driving crashes, increasing public awareness and improving enforcement of alcohol and drug-related traffic laws, including cannabis.
The CHP administers the program. The agency announced July 20 that it had awarded more than $41 million to agencies statewide in 2026.
Borbely's successful application means Moraga will add a dedicated DUI patrol vehicle to its fleet, marked with enforcement signage visible to drivers. The Aug. 26 staff report does not specify when the vehicle will be deployed.
Residents should call 911 if suspected impaired driving poses an immediate danger. Moraga’s 24/7 police dispatch number is 925-284-5010.
