Crackdown on Repeat DUI Offenders



Amy Kortland was killed when a repeat DUI offender smashed into her car.


Sgt. Dave Ferry with INSIDE EDITION's Jim Moret.

Melanie Kortlang lost her 22-year-old daughter, Amy, when a man smashed his pickup truck head-on into Amy's car on a highway outside San Diego, killing her instantly. He was driving drunk, without a license and had four prior convictions for driving under the influence.

Asked what went through her mind when she found out that the person who took her daughter had been arrested time and time again for drunk driving, Melanie said, "Absolute anger. You've got somebody that has four prior DUI convictions and is back out on the street and to do what? Do the inevitable and that's kill my daughter."

Now police departments are cracking down on repeat offenders. In Los Angeles, a special police unit was created to keep repeat DUI offenders with suspended or revoked licenses off the road.

INSIDE EDITION spent two days with Sgt. Dave Ferry who heads the special task force. His unit has arrested 235 people so far.

"We're not gonna wait," Sgt. Ferry said. "We're tired of waiting and going to collision scenes, and cleaning up the aftermath of DUI collisions. Now we're going to be out there and stop them before they occur."

INSIDE EDITION was there with police as they staked out neighborhoods looking for DUI offenders.

Incredibly, one man, who police say had a suspended license after a second conviction, was seen coming back from a DUI hearing, then he got right back in his car and drove away.

He had no idea officers from the task force were watching him. The man was pulled over and arrested for driving with a suspended license. He said he thought he had a valid restricted license and has pleaded not guilty.

Sgt. Ferry is convinced that his task force is saving lives.

As for Melanie, she hopes by speaking out, she too can save lives. "If I can prevent one other mother, one other parent from having to feel the pain and go through what I go through day, that's my job, I do it for her," she said.

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