Crime & Safety

Police Sting Suspended Drivers After DUI Arraignments

Motorcycle officers pull over defendants in the streets around Superior Court in Walnut Creek.

The judge warned them, but a dozen defendants were caught allegedly disobeying orders.

A bevy of local law enforcement agencies conducted a sting Monday in the area of Walnut Creek Superior Court on Ygnacio Valley Road. The defendants in DUI arraignments had been warned not to drive, but motorcycle officers caught them doing just that in the streets around the courthouse, according to a news release from the Office of the Sheriff.

“They should have had someone drive them to court or taken public transportation,” said Sgt. Don Tetzloff of the Walnut Creek Police Department. “If someone is unlicensed or has a suspended license, they should not be driving. We want to send a strong message that law enforcement is watching and similar operations are planned.”

Nearly all of the 97 defendants who appeared for DUI arraignment had suspended licenses and were told specifically by a judge not to drive, the news release stated. Most didn’t but some did so anyway.

The operation used undercover officers who observed the defendants drive off in a vehicle. The information was relayed to motorcycle officers who stopped the cars and arrested the suspects.

Twelve were arrested. They were brought back to court to face the same judge, police said. This time all were taken into custody, their probation revoked. They were not eligible for bail or cite/release, the news release stated. Their vehicles were impounded.

Funding for the Avoid program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Agencies involved were: the Office of the Sheriff, county Probation Department, and police departments from Walnut Creek, San Ramon, Danville and Pleasant Hill.


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