Three Charged With DUI

At Sobriety Checkpoint  

At a sobriety checkpoint held last weekend on Hawleyville Road (Route 25), near its intersection with Covered Bridge Road, police arrested three motorists on drunken driving charges.

Police held that checkpoint on a straightaway, just south of the Exit 9 interchange of Interstate 84. The enforcement project took place on the evening of Saturday, August 20, and the early morning hours of Sunday, August 21.

Besides the three DUI arrests, police issued nine written warnings and made 32 verbal warnings for miscellaneous motor vehicle violations, according to Sergeant John Cole, who supervised the enforcement project.

During such checkpoints, police stop all motorists who are passing through the area in both directions and conduct brief interviews with drivers to learn whether they have used any alcohol or drugs before driving.

At about 8:24 pm on August 20, police stopped motorist Douglas Budd, 52, of Bethel at the checkpoint.

Police said that after investigating, they charged Budd with driving under the influence and also with failure to have automotive insurance.

After processing, police released Budd on $100 bail for a September 1 appearance at Danbury Superior Court.

In another vehicular stop made at the checkpoint, police said they interviewed motorist Robert Lutz, 58, of Brookfield at about 11:33 pm on August 20, after which they charged him with driving under the influence.

After police processed that arrest, they released Lutz on $100 bail for a September 7 appearance at Danbury Superior Court.

Also, police stopped motorist Joseph Evans, 47, of Danbury at the checkpoint at about 11:51 pm August 20. Police said that after an investigation, they charged Evans with driving under the influence. After processing, police released Evans on $200 bail for a September 1 court appearance.

Police conducted the checkpoint with the aid of grant money which covers 75 percent of the police overtime costs connected with such special enforcement projects.