Police Conduct First Summer Sobriety Checkpoint

By Andrew Gorosko

Police held their first sobriety checkpoint of the summer season last weekend on Wasserman Way, charging two motorists with driving under the influence, as well as handing out seven infractions and issuing 45 warnings for various motor vehicle violations.

Police conducted the checkpoint from 7 pm Saturday, June 21, to 3 am Sunday, June 22, on Wasserman Way (Route 490), which is a heavily traveled road that links both Route 25 (South Main Street) and Route 34 (Berkshire Road) to the Exit 11 interchange of Interstate 84, said Sergeant Douglas Wisentaner.

The sobriety checkpoint was clearly posted and alternate travel routes around the checkpoint were available, according to the sergeant. Ten police officers were stationed at the checkpoint, including one supervisor.

During the checkpoint, police briefly stopped drivers who were traveling in both directions, checking to learn whether the motorists were under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Police said motorist Daniel Barrett, 28, of Monroe, drove straight through the checkpoint without stopping as required, after which police stopped him to investigate at about 12:14 am June 22.

Police charged Barrett with driving under the influence, possession of less than four ounces of marijuana, and with possession of drug paraphernalia.

Following arrest processing, Barrett was released from custody on $100 bail for a July 8 arraignment on the charges in Danbury Superior Court.

Also at the checkpoint, police said they spotted motorist Brian Mantone, 25, of Bridgeport, who was driving westward on Berkshire Road at about 12:18 am June 22.

After spotting the checkpoint, Mantone made a U-turn in his vehicle without signaling to do so, prompting police to follow him and stop him at Toddy Hill Road to investigate.

Police arrested Mantone on charges of driving under the influence, possession of less than four ounces of marijuana, and failure to use a turn signal.

Following arrest processing, police released Mantone on $100 bail for a July 8 court appearance.

Other enforcement that occurred at the checkpoint included 41 warnings for improper display of marker plates and four warnings for various headlamp violations, Sgt Wisentaner said.

Also issued were two infractions for driving without a license, two infractions for driving an unregistered vehicle, and one infraction each for failure to obey a traffic signal, failure to have a child safety seat, and unsafe movement.

A police officer working at the checkpoint, who also is a child safety seat technician, inspected and reinstalled two improperly installed child safety seats in the vehicles of motorists who passed through the checkpoint, Sgt Wisentaner said.

Police plan to conduct more sobriety checkpoints this summer and also operate roving patrols to seek out drunken drivers, he said.

The heightened enforcement is intended to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities stemming from intoxicated driving. 

Federal grant funding covers 75 percent of the police overtime costs for expanded DUI enforcement.