Brea Targets Illegal Street Racing and Drunk Driving with $73K Federal Grant
Brea officials are stepping up efforts to tackle illegal street racing and drunk driving, bolstered by a $73,000 federal grant from the Office of Traffic Safety’s Selective Traffic Enforcement Program. The funding will support strategies to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries, with a strong emphasis on combating impaired driving.
This initiative follows a notable uptick in alcohol-related accidents since 2021. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, Brea ranks 26th out of 93 similarly populated cities for fatal and injury crashes. Between January 2023 and January 2024, Brea experienced 47 DUI-related crashes—up from 26 in 2021—resulting in 16 injuries. Notably, eight of these collisions occurred near the intersection of Brea Boulevard and Imperial Highway, identified as a traffic crash hotspot.
At their Nov. 19 meeting, Brea City Council members unanimously approved the $73,000 grant, which will fund officer training in advanced DUI detection and public education campaigns promoting safe driving and traffic law compliance. According to Liz Pharis, Brea’s spokesperson, the grant offers essential public safety improvements without adding financial pressure on residents.
“This grant enhances public safety outreach and enforcement capabilities without requiring additional taxpayer funds. It’s a win for Brea residents,” said Pharis.
The grant will address not only impaired driving but also other high-risk factors contributing to collisions. Unsafe speeding, improper turning, and violations of traffic signals are the primary causes of crashes in the area. Data from the past year revealed that speeding led to 27 crashes with 32 injuries, while improper turning caused 19 crashes resulting in 22 injuries. Additionally, traffic signal violations contributed to 28 crashes with 43 injuries.
Beyond impaired driving, Brea Police are focusing efforts on illegal street racing and "intersection takeovers," increasingly concerning issues in Orange County. The department has joined the Strategic Traffic Enforcement Against Reckless Driving (STREARD) task force to collaborate on regional efforts to address these dangerous driving behaviors.
Through training, enforcement, and education, Brea hopes to reduce traffic crashes, improve road safety, and strengthen public outreach to combat unsafe driving habits.
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