Court house sting targets DUI offenders in Indio

On Monday morning, officers tailed a dozen suspected DUI offenders who were either unlicensed or had their licenses suspended after showing up for their court proceedings in Indio. A third of them decided to drive away from the Larson Justice Center after specifically being told by a judge they were no longer allowed to drive, according to a release from the Palm Desert Police Department.

Officers conducted the undercover ‘Court Sting’ from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Twelve offenders were followed by officers from courtrooms to their vehicles to ensure they weren’t driving. Officers said, while some of them complied with the law and arranged for alternate transportation, four individuals in court for DUI charges got behind the wheel and drove away from the court house.

Those who decided to drive were stopped by officers who were waiting nearby. Two drivers were arrested for driving on a suspended license and their vehicles were impounded. It wasn’t immediately known if the other two offenders faced any charges after being stopped Monday morning.

The two arrested could face additional jail time, a longer suspension of their driving privileges and more financial hits.

According to police, DUI court sting stakeout operations, along with regularly scheduled high visibility DUI enforcement, serve as a proven deterrent with the goal of keeping impaired and unlicensed drivers from the road and heightening awareness among the public of the dangers of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

This particular operation was funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.