Alcohol Impaired Driving Countermeasures Incentive Grants I

To encourage States to adopt effective programs to reduce crashes resulting from persons driving while under the influence of alcohol.

States meeting certain criteria as established by regulations, they could apply for this grant. No new funds have been authorized for this program.

States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. States are provided with two alternative means to qualify for a Section 410 grant. Under the first alternative, States may qualify as a low fatality rate State if they have an alcohol-related fatality rate of 0.5 or less per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Under the second alternative, States may qualify as a programmatic State if they demonstrate that they meet three of eight grant criteria for fiscal year 2006, four of eight grant criteria for fiscal year 2007, and five of eight grant criteria for fiscal years 2008, 2009 And for the remainder of the current authorization. Qualifying under both alternatives would not entitle the State to receive additional grant funds. SAFETEA-LU directs that States with low alcohol-related fatality rates, based on the agency's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), be awarded grants without the need to satisfy any of these programmatic criteria. There is also an additional Section 410 grant available to assist the 10 States with the highest impaired driving related fatalities as determined by the most recent FARS data. A High fatallty rate State may also apply as a programmatic State.

State Highway Safety Agency.

State submits certification and application that it meets eligibility requirements; after being informed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that it is eligible for a grant, the State describes the programs it will implement and fund in the Annual Highway Safety Plan.

Incentive grant funds are available to States to implement effective programs to reduce drunk and drugged driving, in compliance with established criteria.

Federal share was reimbursed on claims submitted in vouchers covering costs incurred. All participants were converted to the Electronic Transfer of Funds method. Funds placed in obligation are available until expended.

States submit information reflecting its eligibility for the award based on criteria for which it is applying. NHTSA reviews the information to determine eligibility. If the State is deemed eligible to receive an award, the Regional office will notify it and will also receive official award letters from NHTSA Administrator. Release of grant funds shall be subject to the availability of funds for that fiscal year. No new funds have been awarded.

High Fatality Rate States only must submit a plan for grant expenditures with the application.

States must meet a certain number of criteria established by statute and regulation each year including, for example, prompt license suspension for drunk driving, mandatory sentencing for repeat drunk driving offenders and self-sustaining drunk driving prevention programs, improvement in Blood Alcohol Content (BAC ) testing rates, an increase in the number of DWI courts and improvements in statewide high visibility enforcement coverage.

The State submits information that reflects its eligibility for the award based on the criteria for which it is applying. NHTSA staff review the information to determine the eligibility of the State. If the State is deemed eligible to receive an award, it will be notified by the Region and will also receive an official letter of award from the NHTSA Administrator. The release of grant funds shall be subject to the availability of funds for that fiscal year.

Applicants receive a response, from the agency, between 30 to 60 days.

States were eligible for up to 4 years under the 410 program or until the end of the current authorization. Certification and plan had to be approved each year. This program has ended and no new funds are available.