BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Between 7:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., officers from the Bakersfield Police Department and deputies with the Kern County Sheriff’s Department conducted an undercover court sting operation at the Bakersfield Traffic Court, 3131 Arrow Street targeting individuals driving on a suspended or revoked license and unlicensed drivers.

Police officers staked out offenders who had been cited previously or told by a judge not to drive and followed them from courtrooms to the parking area to be sure they were not driving due to a suspended or revoked license, or never having been issued a valid license, Sgt. Mary DeGeare said.

More than two dozen offenders were followed outside by officers.

While some offenders had alternate means of transportation, seventeen of them got behind the wheel of a vehicle and drove away from the court house.

Those who chose to drive were stopped by waiting officers, cited and released.

All of those drivers cited also had their vehicles impounded for 30 days.

One adult male was also cited and released on an outstanding bench warrant.

Funding for this operation was provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.