Friday, December 30, 2011

CA - VISTA: Courthouse checkpoint lands driver behind bars, 25 vehicles in tow yard

OFF THE WIRE
VISTA: Courthouse checkpoint lands driver behind bars, 25 vehicles in tow yard........
North County Times

Sheriff's deputies towed 25 vehicles and issued 26 tickets at a checkpoint outside of Vista Superior Court targeting DUI offenders driving without valid licenses, authorities said.
"Many of the offenders were specifically ordered by a judge not to drive after having their driving privilege suspended or revoked," San Diego County sheriff's Lt. Joe Sanchez said in a written statement.
Deputies periodically perform the checks outside of the courthouse, sometimes stopping people starting to drive home after being ordered to surrender their licenses.
Wednesday's operation went from 3 to 5 p.m., during which deputies spoke with 357 drivers. In addition to those towed and cited, one person was arrested on suspicion of driving on a suspended license with multiple convictions, the statement said.

San Diego County Sheriff's Department - DUI Court Sting 
Uploaded by on Dec 29, 2011
Sheriff's Deputies and officers from the County's Avoid the 14 Taskforce conducted a Suspended Drivers License/DUI court sting operation on Wednesday, December 28th from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the Vista Courthouse on South Melrose Drive. Deputies and officers targeted DUI offenders who were driving while unlicensed or driving on a suspended license. The court sting was held in conjunction with a MADD victim impact panel being held at the courthouse. "Our goal for this operation was to ensure compliance since many offenders were specifically ordered by a judge not to drive," said Lieutenant Jose Sanchez of the Sheriff's Department Traffic Services Division.

357 drivers were contacted. Of those, 67 vehicles were sent into a secondary screening area, 25 vehicles were towed, 15 citations were issued for driving on a suspended license, 11 citations were issued for driving without a license and 1 arrest was made for driving on a suspended license with multiple convictions. Some offenders will face new charges and others may face jail time, added fees or have their vehicles impounded for 30 days.