Sting Catches Drivers With Suspended Licenses Driving Away From Sonoma County Court

People who drive themselves to court and then have their licenses suspended face an obvious dilemma.

Wednesday morning, local authorities stopped and cited eight people driving away from the county court after their licenses had just been suspended, according to a press release.

Plain-clothed officers from Petaluma, Santa Rosa, Cotati and Sebastopol police departments, as well as the Sonoma County Sheriff's Department and California State Parks, watched people who were appearing in court on DUI or suspended license charges Wednesday morning, the press release states.

"When defendants left the court, the undercover officers maintained surveillance of them as they walked outside to their vehicle," the Petaluma Police press release states. "If the suspended or unlicensed driver got behind the wheel of a vehicle and drove away they were apprehended by motor officers waiting nearby."

The following drivers were stopped, cited, and their vehicles impounded, according to the press release:

"Marcell Guillory, age 42, from Vallejo - driving on a suspended license. 
Danielle Kinney, age 31, from Penngrove - driving on a suspended license for DUI. 
Edward Doughty, age 53, from Sebastopol - driving on a suspended license. 
Jorge Jordan, age 44, from Santa Rosa - driving on a suspended license for DUI. 
Burton Tracy, age 48, from Ukiah – driving on a suspended license. 
Lillie Troy, age 32, from Oakland – driving on a suspended license for DUI. 
Samu Tueli, age 34, from Santa Rosa – driving on a suspended license for DUI. 
Trevor Towle, age 26, from Healdsburg – driving on a suspended license."

The operation was funded by a state grant.

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