New York State troopers in cooperation with the Suffolk County police operated a Friday night sobriety checkpoint in Patchogue. They screened 499 vehicles at the intersection of the Sunrise Highway’s North Service Road and Waverly Avenue. Law enforcement officers arrested 10 people that night for either driving while intoxicated or drug impairment.
The people detained by authorities came from Amityville and Holbrook. The youngest driver arrested was 23, and the oldest person taken off the road was 59. Their arraignments took place the following day in Central Islip at the First District Court.
The Suffolk County District Attorney’s DWI Task Force also organized another sobriety checkpoint with the police departments from Riverhead, Southold and Shelter Island. State police contributed to this checkpoint, where three people went to jail after law enforcement accused them of drinking, drug use or drug possession.
Although arrests for drunk driving are commonplace, a DWI conviction imposes serious consequences. A person could go to jail, pay large fines and experience difficulty buying insurance or keeping a job as a result. A criminal defense attorney could provide advice and representation that empowers a person during dealings with the criminal justice system. An attorney could take actions to protect a person’s rights by examining the validity of evidence. An improperly conducted field sobriety test could create a reason for an attorney to ask the prosecutor to dismiss evidence. When evidence cannot be discounted, an attorney could strive to organize a plea deal that might reduce penalties and allow someone to regain a provisional license to get to work.
Source: News Day, “Cops: Drivers face charges in Christmas sobriety enforcement“, Khristopher Brooks, Dec. 23, 2017
