Santa Maria Man Arrested In Undercover Police Sting Operation

The Santa Maria Police Department Traffic Unit caught Rocha after conducting an undercover court sting operation targeting drivers who are unlicensed and drivers whose licenses were suspended or revoked.

Mary Whitley strongly supports the police sting.She said she “was hit by a person that didn’t have a license” last year.

Whitley thinks that the random checks they do are really good.

Police say a lot of drivers who go to court anticipating getting their license suspended park in the mall parking lot and walk over to the courthouse to avoid being seen driving off.

Sgt. Mark Streker with SMPD said “Many of [the drivers] are unlicensed because of a DUI so it is our goal to get them off the roads to therefore reduce our traffic accidents.”

Santa Maria police said they followed four out of court today and cited one since the other three had drivers with them.

Law enforcement said at least a dozen failed to show up to court and may now have potential warrants our for their arrest.

Rocha was taken to the police station and released from custody. He faces a misdemeanor charge since he was told by the judge not to drive.