§ 1300.23 — Impaired Driving Countermeasures Grants.

23 CFR § 1300.23

• Title: Title 23: Highways
• Part: Part 1300: Uniform Procedures for State Highway Safety Grant Programs
• Source: eCFR (current through Mar 5, 2026)

Text

§ 1300.23 Impaired Driving Countermeasures Grants.

(a) Purpose. This section establishes criteria, in accordance with 23 U.S.C. 405(d), for awarding grants to States that adopt and implement effective programs to reduce traffic safety problems resulting from individuals driving motor vehicles while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or a combination of alcohol and drugs; that enact alcohol-ignition interlock laws; or that implement 24-7 sobriety programs.

(b) Definitions. As used in this section—

24-7 sobriety program means a State law or program that authorizes a State or local court or an agency with jurisdiction, as a condition of bond, sentence, probation, parole, or work permit, to require an individual who was arrested for, pleads guilty to, or was convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs to—

(i) Abstain totally from alcohol or drugs for a period of time; and

(ii) Be subject to testing for alcohol or drugs at least twice per day at a testing location, by continuous transdermal alcohol monitoring via an electronic monitoring device, by drug patch, by urinalysis, by ignition interlock monitoring (provided the interlock is able to require tests twice a day without vehicle operation), by other types of electronic monitoring, or by an alternative method approved by NHTSA.

Assessment means a NHTSA-facilitated process that employs a team of subject matter experts to conduct a comprehensive review of a specific highway safety program in a State.

Average impaired driving fatality rate means the number of fatalities in motor vehicle crashes involving a driver with a blood alcohol concentration of at least 0.08 percent for every 100,000,000 vehicle miles traveled, based on the most recently reported three calendar years of final data from the FARS.

Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or a combination of alcohol and drugs means operating a vehicle while the alcohol and/or drug concentration in the blood or breath, as determined by chemical or other tests, equals or exceeds the level established by the State, or is equivalent to the standard offense, for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in the State.

Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) Court means a court that specializes in cases involving driving while intoxicated and abides by the Ten Guiding Principles of DWI Courts in effect on the date of the grant, as established by the National Center for DWI Courts.

High-range State means a State that has an average impaired driving fatality rate of 0.60 or higher.

High-visibility enforcement efforts means participation in national impaired driving law enforcement campaigns organized by NHTSA, participation in impaired driving law enforcement campaigns organized by the State, or the use of sobriety checkpoints and/or saturation patrols conducted in a highly visible manner and supported by publicity through paid or earned media.

Low-range State means a State that has an average impaired driving fatality rate of 0.30 or lower.

Mid-range State means a State that has an average impaired driving fatality rate that is higher than 0.30 and lower than 0.60.

Restriction on driving privileges means any type of State-imposed limitation, such as a license revocation or suspension, location restriction, alcohol-ignition interlock device, or alcohol use prohibition.

Saturation patrol means a law enforcement activity during which enhanced levels of law enforcement are conducted in a concentrated geographic area (or areas) for the purpose of detecting drivers operating motor vehicles while impaired by alcohol and/or other drugs.

Sobriety checkpoint means a law enforcement activity during which law enforcement officials stop motor vehicles on a non-discriminatory, lawful basis for the purpose of determining whether the operators of such motor vehicles are driving while impaired by alcohol and/or other drugs.

Standard offense for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs means the offense described in a State's statute that makes it a criminal offense to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, but does not require a measurement of alcohol or drug content.

(c) Eligibility determination. A State is eligible to apply for a grant under this section as a low-range State, a mid-range State, or a high-range State, in accordance with paragraph (d), (e), or (f) of this section, as applicable. Independent of qualification on the basis of range, a State may also qualify for separate grants under this section as a State with an alcohol-ignition interlock law, as provided in paragraph (g) of this section, or as a State with a 24-7 sobriety program, as provided in paragraph (h) of this section.

(d) Qualification criteria for a low-range State. To qualify for an Impaired Driving Countermeasures Grant in a fiscal year, a low-range State (as determined by NHTSA) shall submit as part of its annual grant application the assurances in part 3 of appendix B to this part that the State will use the funds awarded under 23 U.S.C. 405(d)(1) only for the implementation and enforcement of programs authorized in paragraph (j) of this section.

(e) Qualification criteria for a mid-range State—(1) General requirements. To qualify for an Impaired Driving Countermeasures Grant in a fiscal year, a mid-range State (as determined by NHTSA) shall submit as part of its annual grant application the assurance required in paragraph (d) of this section and a copy of a statewide impaired driving plan that contains the following information, in accordance with part 3 of appendix B to this part:

(i) Section that describes the authority and basis for the operation of the statewide impaired driving task force, including the process used to develop and approve the plan and date of approval;

(ii) List that contains names, titles, and organizations of all task force members, provided that the task force includes stakeholders from the following groups:

(A) State Highway Safety Office;

(B) State and local law enforcement;

(C) Criminal justice system (e.g., prosecution, adjudication, and probation);

(D) Public health;

(E) Drug-impaired driving countermeasures (e.g., DRE coordinator); and

(F) Communications and community engagement.

(iii) Strategic plan based on the most recent version of Highway Safety Program Guideline No. 8—Impaired Driving, which, at a minimum, covers the following:

(A) Program management and strategic planning;

(B) Prevention, including community engagement and coalitions;

(C) Criminal justice systems;

(D) Communications programs;

(E) Alcohol and other drug misuse, including screening, treatment, assessment and rehabilitation; and

(F) Program evaluation and data.

(2) Assurance qualification for fiscal year 2024 grants. For the application due date of August 1, 2023 only, if a mid-range State is not able to meet the requirements of paragraph (e)(1) of this section, the State may submit the assurance required in paragraph (d) of this section and a separate assurance that the State will convene a statewide impaired driving task force to develop a statewide impaired driving plan that meets the requirements of paragraph (e)(1) of this section, and submit the statewide impaired driving plan by August 1 of the grant year. The agency will require the return of grant funds awarded under this section if the State fails to submit a plan that meets the requirements of paragraph (e)(1) of this section by the deadline and will redistribute any such grant funds in accordance with 23 CFR 1200.20(e) to other qualifying States under this section.

(3) Previously submitted plan. A mid-range State that has received a grant for a previously submitted statewide impaired driving plan under paragraph (e)(1) or (f)(1) of this section that was approved after the application due date of August 1, 2023 for a period of three years after the approval occurs may, in lieu of submitting the plan required under paragraph (e)(1) of this section, submit the assurance required in paragraph (d) of this section and a separate assurance that the State continues to use the previously submitted plan.

(f) Qualification criteria for a high-range State—(1) General requirements. To qualify for an Impaired Driving Countermeasures Grant in a fiscal year, a high-range State (as determined by NHTSA) shall submit as part of its annual grant application the assurance required in paragraph (d) of this section, the date of a NHTSA-facilitated assessment of the State's impaired driving program conducted within three years prior to the application due date, a copy of a statewide impaired driving plan that contains the information required in paragraphs (e)(1)(i) through (iii) of this section and that includes the following additional information, in accordance with part 3 of appendix B to this part:

(i) Review that addresses in each plan area any related recommendations from the assessment of the State's impaired driving program;

(ii) Projects implementing impaired driving activities listed in paragraph (j)(4) of this section that must include high-visibility enforcement efforts, at the level of detail required under § 1300.12(b)(2); and

(iii) Description of how the spending supports the State's impaired driving program and achievement of its performance targets.

(2) Assurance qualification for fiscal year 2024 grants. For the application due date of August 1, 2023 only, if a high-range State is not able to the meet the requirements of paragraph (f)(1) of this section, the State may submit the assurance required in paragraph (d) of this section and separate information that the State has conducted a NHTSA-facilitated assessment within the last three years, or an assurance that the State will conduct a NHTSA-facilitated assessment during the grant year and convene a statewide impaired driving task force to develop a statewide impaired driving plan that meets the requirements of paragraph (f)(1) of this section, and submit the statewide impaired driving plan by August 1 of the grant year. The agency will require the return of grant funds awarded under this section if the State fails to submit a plan that meets the requirements of paragraph (f)(1) of this section by the deadline and will redistribute any such grant funds in accordance with § 1200.20(e) to other qualifying States under this section.

(3) Previously submitted plans. A high-range State that has received a grant for a previously submitted statewide impaired driving plan under paragraph (f)(1) of this section that was approved after the application due date of August 1, 2023 for a period of three years after the approval occurs may, in lieu of submitting the plan required under paragraph (f)(1) of this section, submit the assurance required in paragraph (d) of this section and provide updates to its statewide impaired driving plan that meet the requirements of paragraphs (e)(1)(i) through (iii) of this section and updates to its assessment review and spending plan that meet the requirements of paragraphs (f)(1)(i) through (iii) of this section.

(g) Grants to States with alcohol-ignition interlock laws. (1) To qualify for an Alcohol-Ignition Interlock Law Grant, a State shall submit legal citation(s) or program information (for paragraph (g)(1)(iii)(B) of this section only), in accordance with part 4 of appendix B to this part, that demonstrates that—

(i) All individuals who are convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or of driving while intoxicated are permitted to drive only motor vehicles equipped with alcohol-ignition interlocks for a period of not less than 180 days; or

(ii) All individuals who are convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or of driving while intoxicated and who are ordered to use an alcohol-ignition interlock are not permitted to receive any driving privilege or driver's license unless each such individual installs on each motor vehicle registered, owned, or leased by the individual an alcohol-ignition interlock for a period of not less than 180 days; or

(iii)(A) All individuals who are convicted of, or whose driving privileges have been revoked or denied for, refusing to submit to a chemical or other appropriate test for the purpose of determining the presence or concentration of any intoxicating substance and who are ordered to use an alcohol-ignition interlock are required to install on each motor vehicle to be operated by each such individual an alcohol-ignition interlock for a period of not less than 180 days; and

(B) All individuals who are convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or of driving while intoxicated and who are ordered to use an alcohol-ignition interlock must—

(1) Install on each motor vehicle to be operated by each such individual an alcohol-ignition interlock for a period of not less than 180 days; and

(2) Complete a minimum consecutive period of not less than 40 percent of the required period of alcohol-ignition interlock installation immediately prior to the end of each such individual's installation requirement, without a confirmed violation of the State's alcohol-ignition interlock program use requirements.

(2) Permitted exceptions. A State statute providing for the following exceptions, and no others, shall not be deemed out of compliance with the requirements of paragraph (g)(1) of this section:

(i) The individual is required to operate an employer's motor vehicle in the course and scope of employment and the business entity that owns the vehicle is not owned or controlled by the individual;

(ii) The individual is certified in writing by a physician as being unable to provide a deep lung breath sample for analysis by an ignition interlock device; or

(iii) A State-certified ignition interlock provider is not available within 100 miles of the individual's residence.

(h) Grants to States with a 24-7 sobriety program. To qualify for a 24-7 Sobriety Program Grant, a State shall submit the following as part of its annual grant application, in accordance with part 5 of appendix B to this part:

(1) Legal citation(s) to State statute demonstrating that the State has enacted and is enforcing a statute that requires all individuals convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or of driving while intoxicated to receive a restriction on driving privileges, unless an exception in paragraph (g)(2) of this section applies, for a period of not less than 30 days; and

(2) Legal citation(s) to State statute or submission of State program information that authorizes a statewide 24-7 sobriety program.

(i) Award amounts. (1) The amount available for grants under paragraphs (d) through (f) of this section shall be determined based on the total amount of eligible States for these grants and after deduction of the amounts necessary to fund grants under 23 U.S.C. 405(d)(6).

(2) The amount available for grants under 23 U.S.C. 405(d)(6)(A) shall not exceed 12 percent of the total amount made available to States under 23 U.S.C. 405(d) for the fiscal year.

(3) The amount available for grants under 23 U.S.C. 405(d)(6)(B) shall not exceed 3 percent of the total amount made available to States under 23 U.S.C. 405(d) for the fiscal year.

(j) Use of grant funds—(1) Eligible uses. Except as provided in paragraphs (j)(2) through (6) of this section, a State may use grant funds awarded under 23 U.S.C. 405(d) only for the following programs:

(i) High-visibility enforcement efforts;

(ii) Hiring a full-time or part-time impaired driving coordinator of the State's activities to address the enforcement and adjudication of laws regarding driving while impaired by alcohol, drugs or the combination of alcohol and drugs;

(iii) Court support of impaired driving prevention efforts, including—

(A) Hiring criminal justice professionals, including law enforcement officers, prosecutors, traffic safety resource prosecutors, judges, judicial outreach liaisons, and probation officers;

(B) Training and education of those professionals to assist the professionals in preventing impaired driving and handling impaired driving cases, including by providing compensation to a law enforcement officer to carry out safety grant activities to replace a law enforcement officer who is receiving drug recognition expert training or participating as an instructor in that drug recognition expert training; or

(C) Establishing driving while intoxicated courts;

(iv) Alcohol ignition interlock programs;

(v) Improving blood alcohol and drug concentration screening and testing, detection of potentially impairing drugs (including through the use of oral fluid as a specimen), and reporting relating to testing and detection;

(vi) Paid and earned media in support of high-visibility enforcement efforts, conducting initial and continuing standardized field sobriety training, advanced roadside impaired driving evaluation training, law enforcement phlebotomy training, and drug recognition expert training for law enforcement, and equipment and related expenditures used in connection with impaired driving enforcement;

(vii) Training on the use of alcohol and drug screening and brief intervention;

(viii) Training for and implementation of impaired driving assessment programs or other tools designed to increase the probability of identifying the recidivism risk of a person convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or a combination of alcohol and drugs and to determine the most effective mental health or substance abuse treatment or sanction that will reduce such risk;

(ix) Developing impaired driving information systems;

(x) Costs associated with a 24-7 sobriety program; or

(xi) Testing and implementing programs, and purchasing technologies, to better identify, monitor, or treat impaired drivers, including—

(A) Oral fluid-screening technologies;

(B) Electronic warrant programs;

(C) Equipment to increase the scope, quantity, quality, and timeliness of forensic toxicology chemical testing;

(D) Case management software to support the management of impaired driving offenders; or

(E) Technology to monitor impaired-driving offenders, and equipment and related expenditures used in connection with impaired-driving enforcement.

(2) Special rule—low-range States. Notwithstanding paragraph (j)(1) of this section, a State that qualifies for grant funds as a low-range State may elect to use—

(i) Grant funds awarded under 23 U.S.C. 405(d) for programs designed to reduce impaired driving based on problem identification, in accordance with § 1300.11; and

(ii) Up to 50 percent of grant funds awarded under 23 U.S.C. 405(d) for any eligible project or activity under Section 402.

(3) Special rule—mid-range States. Notwithstanding paragraph (j)(1) of this section, a State that qualifies for grant funds as a mid-range State may elect to use grant funds awarded under 23 U.S.C. 405(d) for programs designed to reduce impaired driving based on problem identification in accordance with § 1300.11, provided the State receives advance approval from NHTSA.

(4) Special rule—high-range States. Notwithstanding paragraph (j)(1) of this section, a high-range State may use grant funds awarded under 23 U.S.C. 405(d) only for—

(i) High-visibility enforcement efforts; and

(ii) Any of the eligible uses described in paragraph (j)(1) of this section or programs designed to reduce impaired driving based on problem identification, in accordance with § 1300.11, if all proposed uses are described in a statewide impaired driving plan submitted to and approved by NHTSA in accordance with paragraph (f) of this section.

(5) Special rule—reporting and impaired driving measures. Notwithstanding paragraph (j)(1) of this section, a State may use grant funds awarded under 23 U.S.C. 405(d) for any expenditure relating to—

(i) Increasing the timely and accurate reporting to Federal, State, and local databases of crash information, including electronic crash reporting systems that allow accurate real- or near-real time uploading of crash information, or impaired driving criminal justice information; or

(ii) Researching or evaluating impaired driving countermeasures.

(6) Special rule—States with alcohol-ignition interlock laws or 24-7 sobriety programs. Notwithstanding paragraph (j)(1) of this section, a State may elect to use grant funds awarded under 23 U.S.C. 405(d)(6) for any eligible project or activity under Section 402.