South San Francisco, CA February 11, 2018 Submitted by SSFPD
On 02-10-18, South San Francisco Police Officers were conducting undercover surveillance operations on known DUI repeat-offenders with suspended driver’s licenses. Officers were watching a known offender’s house in the area of Baypark Circle at South San Francisco Drive in South San Francisco when the offender was seen driving up to the home. (S) Raj Kohli, 50 years old, of South San Francisco, was stopped and confirmed to be driving with a suspended driver’s license. Kohli has two prior DUI convictions and multiple driver license suspensions within the last ten years. Kohli was also arrested by South San Francisco Police Officers for DUI only six days ago on 02-04-18 when he was involved in a DUI traffic collision.
Today, in addition to driving with a suspended driver’s license from his previous DUI convictions, Kohli was again found to be driving while under the influence of alcohol. Kohli was arrested at the scene for driving with a suspended license and driving while under the influence of alcohol. Kohli’s vehicle was towed, impounded for 30 days, and is potentially subject to permanent forfeiture. Kohli was booked at the San Mateo County main jail for violation of: 23152(a) eve, 14601.2(a) eve, and 23550(a) eve.
The South San Francisco Police Department proactively works with the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Office of Traffic Safety on the DUI Hot List program. This is a program that identifies repeat DUI offenders who have suspended drivers licenses. All offenders on the list are provided a notice about their convictions, told about the Hot List program, and are warned not to drive. The South San Francisco Police Department regularly disseminates a list along with photographs of known DUI Hot List offenders to all traffic and patrol officers. Throughout the year, specially-trained officers also conduct undercover surveillance operations on Hot List offenders and watch their homes or workplace. Offenders caught driving are subject to immediate arrest for driving on a suspended license and are subject to additional OMV sanctions and criminal charges.
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.
Funding for surveillance operations is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.