DATE: November 14, 2006
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT: Electronic Monitoring of DUI Offenders in San Diego County

SUMMARY:
Driving while under the influence of alcohol continues to be a major contributor to traffic crashes and deaths in San Diego County.

It is imperative that we as a County do all that we can to curtail the senseless loss of life and injury that comes from irresponsible people who decide to drive while under the influence of alcohol. A promising new device has been shown to help law enforcement better monitor DUI offenders, particularly repeat DUI offenders. Alcohol-detecting electronic ankle bracelets pro-actively deter offenders from getting behind the wheel and causing injury or death.

Today’s action will direct the Chief Administrative Officer to work with the Sheriff, District Attorney, and the Probation Department to investigate the feasibility of implementing an alcohol-detecting electronic ankle bracelet monitoring program for DUI offenders in San Diego County and to return to the Board in 90 days with recommendations and options for such a program.

RECOMMENDATION:
Supervisor Dianne Jacob

Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to work with the Sheriff, District Attorney, and the Probation Department to investigate the feasibility of implementing an electronic alcohol-detecting ankle bracelet program for DUI offenders in San Diego County and to return to the Board in 90 days with recommendations and options for such a program.

FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.

BACKGROUND:
The senseless and irresponsible behavior of those who drive while under the influence put our entire community at risk. Even worse are those who have been previously convicted of a DUI and decide to get behind the wheel while intoxicated again. The most recent statistics available from M.A.D.D. (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) indicate that in San Diego County there were 128 people killed in alcohol-related accidents in 2004. It is time to stop the slaughter on our roadways caused by drunk drivers.

The latest research also reports that in San Diego County 25% of those arrested for driving while under the influence are repeat offenders. In light of this frightening statistic it is imperative that we do all we can as a County to curtail the senseless loss of life and injury that comes from previous DUI offenders who decide to get behind the wheel while intoxicated.

In June 2006, the San Diego County Probation Department secured a $1.1 million State grant to crack down on DUI offenses and keep better tabs on repeat DUI offenders, individuals with two or more DUI convictions. Under the grant, officers have been closely supervising repeat offenders via unannounced home visits and drug and alcohol testing. Typically, convicted drunk drivers are prohibited from drinking alcohol as a condition of being placed on probation rather than going to jail, whether they plan to drive or not.

Requiring DUI offenders to wear electronic alcohol-detecting ankle bracelets is a pro-active approach that would enable a probation officer to monitor a DUI offender 24 hours a day. When the monitoring device reports that there is alcohol present in the offender’s system at any time, a probation officer can take action and arrest the individual, thus keeping him or her off of our roadways.

As of today, 20 States and over 200 agencies have implemented the use of alcohol-detecting electronic devices in order to monitor DUI offenders and to keep them off of the road. Most recently the County of Riverside took an action supporting the monitoring of DUI offenders by electronic alcohol-detection devices. I believe San Diego County must take similar action in order to protect our families and citizens on the roadways.

This action will direct the Chief Administrative Officer to work with the Sheriff, District Attorney, and the Probation Department to investigate the feasibility of implementing an electronic ankle bracelet monitoring program for DUI offenders in San Diego County and to return to the Board in 90 days with recommendations and options for such a program. I urge your support.

Respectfully submitted,

DIANNE JACOB
Supervisor, Second District