The South San Francisco Police Department has partnered with the Department of Motor Vehicles in the “DUI Hot List” program. This is a program that identifies the “worst of the worst” drivers who have multiple two-point driving convictions, multiple DUI convictions, and/or multiple convictions for driving on a suspended driver’s license.
On 08-25-14, Officers from the South San Francisco Police Department were out on the streets conducting ongoing surveillance operations targeting the repeat offenders on the DUI Hot List. During the operation, officers were watching a repeat offender’s home when they saw him drive up to his home. Officers were already aware that the driver, Ramon Garcia Magana, had a suspended driver’s !license and he was on the DUI Hot List. Officers immediately stopped and detained Magana. Magana was placed under arrest for 14601.2(a) CVC (driving with a suspended driver’s license because of prior DUI convictions). Magana’s vehicle was towed and impounded on a 30 day hold.
This is the second repeat-DUI offender from the DUI Hot List arrested within the last two weeks in South San Francisco. The South San Francisco Police Department disseminates a list of known DUI Hot List offenders to all traffic and patrol officers for everyday patrol. In addition, throughout the year, specially-trained officers conducted undercover surveillance operations like this one targeting known repeat offenders and watching their home or workplace. Offenders caught driving are subject to immediate arrest for driving on a suspended license and can also be subject to additional DMV sanctions and criminal charges. If you have a suspended license, don’t drive or you risk being arrested.
Studies and research conducted by the DMV shows a staggering 75% of drivers who are convicted of DUI continue to drive despite having their drivers licenses suspended or revoked. Repeat DUI offenders in California are involved in 24% of fatal DUI crashes and 63% of injury DUI crashes. These statistics show why programs like the DUI Hot List are important in our efforts to reduce these numbers.