4 ticketed outside court in police sting

Police on Monday impounded three vehicles and ticketed four people outside the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach to enforce court orders on people convicted of a DUI.

Between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday, Costa Mesa police stationed themselves at different areas in the courthouse parking lot and nearby businesses. Other officers followed offenders outside the courthouse.

In all, officers followed 16 DUI offenders out of the courthouse to see how they left the area. Most found alternate means of transportation, but police said four got behind the wheel.

Those officers stationed in the area pulled them over and cited them, officials said. Three got tickets for suspended or revoked licenses and one for not having a license at all.

Funding for the operation came through a grant from the state Office of Traffic Safety.

— Joseph Serna