Courthouse Sting Nabs Five DUI Offenders

Five convicted drunken drivers were arrested Thursday in an Orange County sheriff's sting at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach targeting defendants who drive despite having a suspended license.

After they appeared in court, the suspects were followed to the parking lot by plainclothes members of the "Avoid the 38" anti-DUI task force, said Orange County sheriff's Lt. Jeff Hallock.

"If the defendant entered a vehicle and drove away, uniformed deputies stopped the vehicle and arrested the defendant for driving on a suspended license," Hallock said.

All five suspects were cited at the scene and released, while their vehicles were impounded for 30 days, Hallock said.

Avoid the 38 is named for the number of county law enforcement agencies that participate.

--City News Service