Police Aren’t Fooling on Friday: DUI Warrant Sweep Set Citywide

Friday is April Fools’ Day, but a warrant sweep planned by the La Mesa Police Department that day is serious business.

“Many who get caught drinking and driving are under the impression that if they
simply avoid the court system, the whole thing might fade away. Not in La Mesa,” said a police statement Thursday.

The La Mesa Police Department says it will be “hot on the tails of the DUI offenders with sweeps targeting those who either failed to show up for a court date or violated terms of their probation in a DUI case.”

On Friday, officers will deploy throughout the city to residences and places of business to clear court warrants on the books for the past year.

“There are literally hundreds of DUI warrants in the system,” said police Sgt. Pete
Andersson. “Some of the people are hoping they can put it off for a long time and not have to deal with it. We’re letting the public know that if they don’t take care of it by going to court, we’re going to come find them and take them to jail.”

Those caught often face additional jail time for failing to appear in court or for
violating probation, he said.

When family, friends, and co-workers find out, violators can also face tremendous inconveniences, police said.

Funding for the operation is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.