Sobriety Checkpoint Yields Arrests And Warnings

By Andrew Gorosko

During a seven-hour sobriety checkpoint in Hawleyville on the night of Saturday, July 21, and early morning hours of Sunday, July 22, town police stopped an estimated 550 motorists on Hawleyville Road to deter drunken driving and encourage motorists’ use of seatbelts and child safety restraints.

In the course of that checkpoint, police arrested three motorists on drunken driving counts, charged one driver with drug offenses, and lodged numerous warnings against motorists for seatbelt violations and other offenses.

Eight police officers, assisted by the Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Company, conducted the checkpoint on Hawleyville Road near Covered Bridge Road from 8 pm July 21 to 3 am July 22. Covered Bridge Road is near Exit 9 of Interstate 84. Sergeant Chris Vanghele supervised.

The checkpoint was the fourth such event conducted by police since May 2000. Two other sobriety checkpoints are planned for later this summer.

Of the push to apprehend drunken drivers, Police Chief Michael Kehoe said this week, “This makes a statement. It sends a strong statement to society as a whole. It’s a form of community policing.”

Police typically talk to motorists for less than a minute at such checkpoints. Motorists about whom police have concerns are held at the checkpoint longer, and may be warned or charged depending on the circumstances.

Also, police are prepared to pursue motorists who seek to evade such checkpoints.

Six Charged

Police have listed six of the motorists who passed through the checkpoint, whom they charged with various offenses.

Paul C. Melcher, 41, Milford: driving under the influence, possession of an open alcohol container in a motor vehicle; released after processing on a promise to appear August 2 in Danbury Superior Court.

Joan P. Allison, 42, Sugar Street: driving under the influence; released after processing on a promise to appear August 8 in Danbury Superior Court.

Gavin A. Dignon, 30, Danbury: driving under the influence; released after processing on a promise to appear August 2 in Danbury Superior Court.

 Candace Lyman Maffei, 47, Danbury: operating a motor vehicle while under suspension, operating an unregistered motor vehicle; released after processing for a July 31 appearance in Danbury Superior Court.

Brianna M. Gallo, 21, Providence, R.I.: possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance, possession of narcotics, possession of drug paraphernalia; released after processing on a $350 bond for an August 10 appearance in Danbury Superior Court.

Wilson Yones, 23, Danbury: operating an unregistered motor vehicle, misuse of marker plates, operating a motor vehicle without automotive insurance, operating a motor vehicle without a license; released after processing for an August 2 appearance in Danbury Superior Court.

In the course of the sobriety checkpoint, police verbally warned 20 motorists for not wearing seatbelts and issued written warnings to two drivers for that offense.

Police verbally warned two motorists to update their automotive emission stickers by getting overdue emissions tests.

Also, police verbally warned one driver for driving without his headlights on.

Police verbally warned three motorists for failing to come to a complete stop when directed to do so.

Chief Kehoe said the July 21-22 checkpoint was very similar to checkpoints conducted in December 2000 on Hawleyville Road and in June 2000 and May 2000 at the intersection of Wasserman Way and Trades Lane at Fairfield Hills.

The sobriety checkpoints are partially funded through a law enforcement grant program.