San Rafael, CA – Two Marin County residents face new court violations after unannounced checks were made March 19 on local probationers with previous convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
A probation officer checks a cabinet in the home of a convicted DUI probationer.The
Marin County Probation Department conducted a sweep of DUI offenders’ residences to check on compliance with the terms of their probation. Two teams of four deputy probation officers searched the homes of 11 convicted offenders, and nine were found to be compliant.
Two people were found in violation for being under the influence of alcohol and for alcohol being found in the home. They were transported to a local hospital for medical clearance and subsequently sent to Helen Vine Recovery Center in San Rafael. They have dates scheduled in Marin County Superior Court to face possible jail sanctions.
“There could be an assumption that the COVID-19 pandemic means that our staff won’t be making in-person compliance checks, but our DUI operations always will be important to community safety,” Probation Chief Marlon Washington said. “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic we have been limited to internal operations in lieu of a joint effort with other participating enforcement agencies. We place a high priority on lowering and reducing fatalities, injuries, and property loss related to motor vehicle crashes involving alcohol and/or impaired drivers. These operations are imperative to promoting community safety and ensuring compliance.”
In June 2019, County Probation was notified that they were one of the recipients of the Office of Traffic and Safety grant for supervision of high-risk DUI offenders. The grant funding empowers the department to provide quality-intensive supervision rather than having many of those convicted receiving minimal contact. Probation has been successful in meeting the requirements of that grant and allows it to continue to receive funding.
Probation has committed to DUI offender sweeps quarterly, unannounced probation searches, chemical testing, checks on interlock ignition devices and encouraging treatment would be the main focus points of supervision.