Ripon doesn’t allow storefront cannabis sales but the police department will benefit from taxes on legal statewide cannabis transactions.

The Ripon City Council when they meet Tuesday, July 14, at 6 p.m. will consider approving an agreement with the California Highway Patrol to receive $233,732 for DUI enforcement related expenses for the agency’s cannabis tax fund grant program.

Ripon Police will use the funds to:

*buy a Ford SUV for DUI enforcement for $111,510.

*purchase a $40,792 BMW motorcycle for DUI enforcement.

*train four officers attending Standardized Field Sobriety Test Training with $19,695 covering tuition overtime to attend and overtime to backfill positions.

*stage 20 separate 8-hour DUI saturation patrols at a cost of $30,465.

*conduct two DUI checkpoints funding 10 officers for $31,090.

The annual maintenance cost for the Ford SUV and BMW motorcycle isn’t expected to exceed $4,000. That cost will be covered by the Ripon general fund.

The CHP Cannabis Tax Fund is funded by state excise and cultivation taxes on legal cannabis and cannabis products.

Established by Proposition 64 (the Control, Regulate, and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act), the tax revenue is set aside specifically for the CHP to administer

The purpose of the grant is to provide financial assistance to agencies for the education, prevention, and the enforcement of laws related to driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs, including cannabis and cannabis products.

The intent of the program is to educate the public regarding the dangers of impaired driving, enforce impaired driving laws on the roadway, and improve police effectives.

The grant is awarded on a reimbursement-basis only.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com