In 1981, the California Highway Patrol took notice of the fledgling team, and encouraged their rescue efforts by  creating a mutual aid agreement with the C.H.P., Sacramento County, and the local fire districts as signatories. The name and mission of D.A.R.T. was similar, at the time, to that of C.H.P.'s Drowning Accident Reduction Effort (D.A.R.E.). D.A.R.E. was a C.H.P. program to prevent deaths from vehicles which crashed into water.

 The group expanded as members told friends and word spread of its volunteer activities. DART had soon grown much larger in membership which necessitated an administrative reorganization. By 1983, members incorporated to form DART as a California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation, Bylaws were created, and the first board of directors were elected. Federal 501(c)3 tax exempt status was soon granted to the organization.

 In his same year, DART purchased its first vehicle, a used 1975 Dodge ambulance. The vehicle was purchased for $2000, and a deal was made with an ambulance company to accept medical supplies in payment when needed. A local medical supply company agreed to sell the supplies to DART with a 25% discount. Thus, not only did a bargain supply price result, but free vehicle financing for a year was obtained.

 In 1984 DART reached agreement with the Elk Grove Fire Department to house an emergency response vehicle at the local fire station. The vehicle, purchased and equipped by donations from the public, was designed to speed response to accident scenes where time is of the essence. As a result, a driver could be headed towards a call while two divers suited up in the back. Pulling up on scene, they could step out ready to enter the water. The vehicle was, thanks to local dive shops, equipped to fully outfit four divers at any given time.

 Also, in 1984, DART signed a unique agreement with the State of California’s Office of Emergency Services (OES). The agreement made DART a direct resource to the state, being “on call" for emergency service throughout the State. In return, DART members were made volunteer State employees as “Disaster Service Workers”. This agreement also covered liability and workers compensation insurance for the team. In addition, the DART vehicle was sold to the state, and vehicle insurance and some maintenance costs were now covered by the State of California.

 DART has continued through the years as a volunteer organization.  Vehicles, boats, equipment and its members have come and gone.  Throughout, the mission has remained the same. DART can provide services for all of Northern California, although, it mainly provide services for the greater seven counties around Sacramento.  At times, DART has been called out to go great distances to areas where no local agency has the expertise or services that DART provides.

 In response to the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center and other related targets hit by terrorist during that attack, the office of OES advised DART, that all search and rescue teams must now be overseen by the local Sheriff’s Departments which now are under new directives from the US Homeland Security Agency. As a result, in 2004 the DART team entered into a separate agreement with the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department, as a member of their Special Operations Division. All DART members were asked to submit a live scan fingerprint check and receive a new identification card identifying each member as Sheriff's Department Civilian Volunteers. DART is looking forward to the future and is always making changes wherever needed to better serve the community.

 The DART team has an internet website (www.dartsac.org) that serves not only the membership, but also the public. The site offers our history, explanations of our mission, our policies and procedures, bylaws, training, calendars, forms needed by members, and photos of our team in action. The public is provided, through our website, resources for direct contact with DART members, community involvement, educational contacts, events and news. Links to other Public Safety Dive Teams also encourages continual improvement in standard operating procedures.

 Today DART has two vehicles. Although ‘tired’ they still operate. One is a 1979 converted military ambulance. DART also has a rigid-hull inflatable boat capable of delivering divers and shore support personnel directly to a water related emergencies. Along with all of the diving gear, each vehicle carries many other specialized items such as an underwater camera, line throwers, lift bags, power generators, lights, and radios.

 DART uses gear that is outdated and hard to maintain.  In spite of a deficiency in funds, the members keep the equipment working and serviceable. Through the hard work of its members, safety is the number one priority on all missions. With more funds this equipment could be updated, replaced and enhanced.

 Sometime after 2002 and because of county-wide budget cuts, DART lost its annual donation from the Sacramento County Coroners Office. Since DART is strictly an all volunteer organization, it raises funds through public donations and some yearly events. In particular, a yearly Fireworks Sale was started in 2004, and then a yearly Crab Feed was initiated in 2005. To improve funding, DART members also held a 2006 summer BBQ with silent auction. 

DART remains as strong as its membership.  No DART member is paid for his or her time and effort spent for DART, which includes: rescue and recovery dives, one general membership meeting each month, two board of director meetings per month, and an in-water pool training each month, Other special training classes are taken throughout the year to build skills and promote teamwork. In addition, DART performs countless public speaking engagements to community groups, service clubs, public agencies, and public or private schools to promote water safety to all ages of children and adults.

 Some 40 plus active members from all over Sacramento County, make up the team, sharing their individual skills in public speaking, organization, equipment maintenance, design, fund-raising, diving, training, etc..  The organization does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, or religion. DART does not charge the victims families or agencies for any of its rescue or recovery operations.

 DART exists today because of its members and the community, organizations and businesses who believe in saving lives and recovering those who've have been victims of tragedies.  Only through the members time, effort, family support and the communities support and financial donations, will DART continue to survive.