Felony and repeat misdemeanor DUI offenders are over represented in traffic crashes involving alcohol and other drugs, often with tragic results. A $90,617 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to the Placer County Probation Department will ensure these worst-of-the-worst offenders comply with all court orders.
“This funding will allow the department to enhance the supervision of high risk DUI offenders through random unannounced contacts, frequent testing, and appropriate referrals to alcohol and drug treatment programs,” said Chief Probation Officer Marshall Hopper. “This program enhances our ability to monitor probation compliance and hold DUI offenders accountable, which is a critical component of public safety and safe roadways.”
The grant will fund probation department officials to intensely monitor drivers on probation for felony DUI or multiple misdemeanor DUI convictions.
Supervision for these high-risk offenders include:
- developing and/or maintaining a hot sheet program to notify patrol and traffic officers to be on the lookout for identified repeat DUI offenders with a suspended or revoked license as a result of DUI convictions;
- increasing the percentage of DUI probationers in compliance with court-ordered probation;
- conducting unannounced home searches;
- conducting random alcohol and drug testing;
- utilizing specialized monitoring to ensure compliance with court-ordered DUI education and treatment programs; and
- sending one law enforcement representative to the National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration standardized field sobriety testing post-certified training.
This grant enables increased focus on high-risk repeat DUI offenders and is aimed at reducing the number of people killed and injured in alcohol and other drug related collisions in the county, especially by DUI probationers. In 2013, four people were killed and 138 injured in such crashes in Placer County.
“Complying with probation orders is the first and most necessary step to keep these offenders from being a danger to themselves or others in the future,” said California Office of Traffic Safety Director Rhonda Craft. “The Office of Traffic Safety and the Placer County Probation Department will be working together to help keep the streets and highways safe across Placer County and the state.”
Funding for the grant is from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
