DMV puts Salinas on the ‘Hot List’ to fight repeat DUI offenders

A program to keep the worst of the worst off the streets when it comes to driving under the influence is getting traction in the state and now the Central Coast. “Research shows a staggering 75 percent of drivers who are convicted of DUI continue to drive despite being suspended or revoked,” says Jean Shiomoto, DMV Director.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has teamed up with the Salinas Police Department and 34 other law enforcement agencies across the state in an effort to keep suspended drivers with prior DUI convictions off the road.

Under the “Hot List” project, the DMV provides the agencies with bimonthly lists of the driver license numbers of suspended or revoked multiple DUI offenders in their jurisdictions. Based on that information, law enforcement agencies then create a list for their officers with the names, addresses, photos, and vehicle descriptions of the individuals most likely to re-offend.

As a member of the “Hot List”, Salinas PD must double check each offender’s license status prior to taking any enforcement action, conduct specifically targeted interventions to reduce driving and DUI recidivism among the offenders listed in their area, publicize their use of the “Hot List” to warn offenders they’re being monitored and track and provide DMV with their enforcement activating for assessment.

The purpose of the “Hot List” project is to help law enforcement agencies enforce DMV’s licensing actions to reduce recidivism and crashes among suspended/revoked multiple DUI offenders in California.

Some numbers that are troubling when it comes to those caught drinking and driving:

27% of convicted California DUI offenders are repeat DUI offenders.
They represent less than 1% of California’s total drivers, but are highly over-involved in crashes.
They are involved in 24% of California’s fatal DUI crashes and 63% of injury DUI crashes.
They are up to 47% more likely to re-offend within five years than first time offenders

The “Hot List” started in 2011 as a pilot program with a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to implement a monitored project with DMV’s Research and Development Branch providing oversight of data and implementation by the agencies. During the pilot period, DMV worked with 15 participating police and sheriff’s agencies. The enforcement activities during the first year resulted in 115 citations for driving on a suspended or revoked license, 129 vehicle impoundments, and 23 DUI arrests.

The DMV and OTS are now working to expand the program to include up to 50 law enforcement agencies across the state.