South San Francisco, CA November 5, 2019 Submitted by SSFPD
For the third time in as many weeks, South San Francisco Police Department DART (DUI Apprehension and Reduction Team) stung another DUI repeat offender. On 11-02-2019, two Officers from DART stopped 65 year-old Gustavo Portillo Cortez of South San Francisco for making an illegal U-turn in the downtown area. Cortez was found to be driving with a suspended driver’s license with multiple active suspensions from the Department of Motor Vehicles. Additionally, his vehicle was not equipped with a court-ordered ignition interlock device.
Cortez is a DUI repeat-offender and has two prior convictions for driving while under the influence of alcohol within the last ten years. Cortez was arrested for driving with a suspended driver’s license, for failure to have the ignition interlock device, and for an outstanding misdemeanor arrest warrant for DUI. Cortez’ vehicle was towed, impounded, and is being held for 30 days (subject to permanent forfeiture proceedings).
The South San Francisco Police Department works proactively with the Department of Motor Vehicles and the California Office of Traffic Safety on the “DUI Hot List” program. This is a program that identifies DUI repeat offenders with suspended driver’s licenses. A comprehensive list of information on the drivers is compiled and maintained at the Department. Patrol and Traffic officers are provided with the list, photos of offenders and their vehicles, and they routinely conduct open and/or undercover surveillance operations upon the drivers at their home or workplace. Although not required, all drivers on the DUI Hot List are mailed informational notices about these surveillance operations and they are warned not to drive.
The South San Francisco Police Department has a “zero tolerance” enforcement program for drivers with suspended licenses. If you choose to drive with a suspended license, expect to minimally get issued a misdemeanor citation or arrested and booked into jail. Offenders’ vehicles are towed and impounded on a 30 day hold and are subject to permanent forfeiture pursuant to California law. The South San Francisco Police Department’s DUI Apprehension and Reduction (DART) team routinely conducts enforcement and surveillance operations on the DUI Hot List offenders. Funding for some of these operations comes from a grant by the California Office of Traffic Safety.
Thank you SSFPD for taking DUI seriously!