The Sober Act of 2024 directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish a federal grant program funding 24/7 sobriety programs run by states, tribes, and local governments. These programs require individuals with substance abuse issues—often involved in alcohol-related crimes as a condition of bond, probation, or parole—to abstain from alcohol and drugs while undergoing frequent testing and facing immediate sanctions for violations. The bill authorizes $10 million annually for fiscal years 2025 through 2029, with the federal government covering up to 80 percent of program costs and requiring grant recipients to contribute matching funds. Congress bases this initiative on evidence showing that South Dakota's program returned $70 in savings for every dollar spent and that Montana's program reduced DUI rearrest rates by 80 percent, findings that demonstrate potential cost-effectiveness in reducing alcohol-related crime.
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