CHP Cracking Down on Outstanding DUI Warrants

"SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Last year in California, more than 210,000 arrests were made by law enforcement officers for driving under the influence (DUI). While it’s a nearly 3 percent decrease from the previous year’s total number of DUI arrests statewide, impaired driving remains a major traffic safety concern.

“Every day in California officers are apprehending impaired drivers; however, some of these individuals fail to appear for court,” said California Highway Patrol (CHP) Commissioner Joe Farrow. “The DUI warrant service teams were established so these individuals can be held accountable for their actions.”

The CHP spent the past several months attempting to right that wrong, using a grant to deploy teams of law enforcement officers throughout California in counties with an overwhelming number of outstanding arrest warrants issued for individuals charged with DUI who failed to appear for court.

“Through the efforts of the warrant service teams, hundreds of people were brought to justice,” said Commissioner Farrow.

Warrant service team operations during this 12-month grant period resulted in 327 people beingv cited or arrested. Officers also attempted to serve an additional 545 DUI warrants, which will remain active until these people are arrested or cited. Those totals represent a 22.5 percent increase from warrant service team operations in 2009. Grant funding also provided training of 33 additional warrant service team members who will aide in future missions.

Warrant service operations are by nature more dangerous than traditional law enforcement operations due to officers entering into either the home or workplace of a subject who is involved in criminal activity. Additionally, officers may enter a confined space and, being unfamiliar with the structure, inherently they are put at a higher risk.

Funding for the “Driving Under the Influence Warrant Service Project” was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration."

If you have been arrested for DUI and have failed to appear in court, you likely have a "bench warrant" for your arrest.  Under this policy, the CHP or local police agencies may even appear at your home during the holidays to make an arrest.  Furthermore, if you're on DUI probation and have failed to complete one of your requirements, i.e. filing Proof of Enrollment or Proof of Completion of your DUI school, you may have a post conviction warrant for your arrest. 

If you or someone you know has been arrested for DUI in California or have been convicted but are not sure if you've complied with all the terms and conditions of your DUI probation, CONTACT A LAWYER IMMEDIATELY. 

My office offers FREE CONSULTATIONS and can assist you with either your DUI arrest or issues surrounding your DUI probation.  Remember, YOU ONLY HAVE TEN (10) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF YOUR ARREST TO REQUEST AN ADMINISTRATIVE PER SE ("APS") HEARING FROM THE DMV AND TRY TO SAVE YOUR LICENSE!  Contact my office today, we're open 24/7.

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