They Wished It Was a Hangover

The early morning nausea felt by 850 people in Alameda County this morning wasn't a hangover, but it was a direct result of alcohol.   They were faced with warrants connected to drinking and driving.

Before dawn, officers from 21 law enforcement agencies swept through the county searching for people who were convicted of DUI but failed to appear in court or jail.  

If caught Wednesday, they would spend the entire holiday weekend in jail because court dates won't be scheduled until next week.

People who live in the county but who were busted after partying in the City, the Peninsula, or the Central Valley were not spared.

"We warrant swapped with San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo and Contra Costa County," said officer Traci Rebiejo of the Livermore police department.  "If you got a DUI In another county they may not come knocking here for a misdemeanor, but we will."

"A swing and a miss," is how Rebiejo described one failed attempt.

Those misses turn to hits later because she leaves a calling card behind.

"Eight times out of ten they'll call me because now they know that I know where they live and they don't want another cop car in front of the house where their neighbors can see," Rebiejo said.

During a similar sweep last year, officers tried to serve 500 warrants.   Only 50 offenders were arrested.  This year, they expect about a hundred arrests out of the 850 warrants.

Police say it's just a matter of time before the drunk drivers face the music because warrants never expire.

"Last year we served warrants that were more than 20 years old. It'll catch up with you," Rebiejo said.

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