New Program Targets Wanted Drunk Drivers

A pilot program approved Tuesday by Riverside County supervisors will support periodic sweep operations targeting "thousands" of drivers wanted on outstanding DUI arrest warrants.

"This will be a countywide uniform program outlining a zero tolerance for driving under the influence," said Supervisor Jeff Stone, who introduced the Outstanding Warrant Non-Appearance Intervention Team (OWN IT) program.

"This is for people who get a DUI and don't have the accountability to own up to it and pay their debt to society, or get help for their addictions to alcohol or drugs," he said.

In March, Stone allocated $25,000 toward a daylong sweep in the county's third district to nab 100 individuals with outstanding DUI warrants. Forty people were arrested during the operation.

"There are over 10,000 DUI cases per year, and it's climbing every year," the supervisor said.

Stone asked each of his fellow board members to dedicate $25,000 apiece from their individual community improvement budgets, which are discretionary, for the OWN IT program. But Supervisors Marion Ashley and John Tavaglione hesitated to make such a large financial commitment, indicating they might be interested in making smaller contributions after some deliberation.

However, each supervisor -- with the exception of Supervisor John Benoit, who was absent -- voted in favor of implementing the program on a trial basis.

According to Stone, a percentage of the fines imposed on DUI convicts come back to the county, potentially netting millions of dollars annually.

The supervisor said defendants who are not taken into custody during a sweep and continue to refuse to make a court appearance will have their identities published in local newspapers 30 days later.

"That's been shown to lead to a dramatic drop in the number of people with DUIs and outstanding warrants," Stone said.