Sobriety Checkpoint-Police Lodge One DUI Charge, Various MV Offenses
Sobriety Checkpointâ
Police Lodge One DUI Charge, Various MV Offenses
Police arrested one man on a charge of driving under the influence, and cited other drivers for various motor vehicle offenses during a sobriety checkpoint held on the night of Saturday, July 24, and early morning hours of Sunday, July 25.
Ten police officers and one supervisor conducted the sobriety checkpoint from 7 pm July 24, to 3 am July 25, on South Main Street, near the Botsford Firehouse, said police Sergeant Christopher Vanghele.
Each vehicle that was traveling northward or southward on South Main Street was stopped, and each motorist was briefly interviewed to determine whether the drivers were under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs, according to the sergeant. Police estimate they stopped 1,100 drivers during the checkpoint. Botsford firefighters used emergency lighting equipment to illuminate the checkpoint.
At about 10:50 pm July 24, police stopped motorist Robert Ioli, 24, of Fort Meyers, Fla., at the checkpoint. Ioli failed a series of field sobriety tests and was charged with driving under the influence, police said.
Police transported Ioli to the police station where he was booked on the charge and was then released on $20 bail for an August 3 appearance in Danbury Superior Court.
During the course of the checkpoint, police cited two drivers for operating unregistered vehicles. Police also charged one motorist for failure to have a driverâs license. Also, police charged one driver with improper backing.
During the sobriety checkpoint, police issued 11 verbal warnings and two written warnings for miscellaneous motor vehicle violations.
Grant money approved by the state Department of Transportation is used for police overtime for sobriety checkpoints and for the policeâs roving DUI patrols. Police plan to conduct another sobriety checkpoint in late August.
The July 24â25 checkpoint was the 15th such checkpoint held by police during the past several years. Past checkpoints have resulted in 30 arrests for driving under the influence.