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Both Speeding and Swerving

Thu, 05/23/2019 - 06:39

East Hampton Town police arrested Freddy Romeo Mendoza-Gutierrez early Sunday morning on Three Mile Harbor-Hog Creek Road in Springs, saying his 2008 Ford had been swerving into the oncoming lane. He failed a field sobriety test, police said, and his breath test at Wainscott headquarters produced a reported reading of.15, almost twice the legal limit. He was charged with drunken driving, a misdemeanor, and aggravated unlicensed driving.

Mr. Mendoza, who lives in East Hampton Village, was arraigned before East Hampton Town Justice Lisa R. Rana later that day. She took great pains to explain to him through the court translator that his driving privileges in New York State were suspended, and that were he to be arrested again while driving, the charge would be far more serious. He repeatedly asked if he could drive again after his case was resolved. “At no point is this court telling you that, when this case is over, you will be able to drive,” Justice Rana said.

The attorney Carl Irace, who was representing Mr. Mendoza, questioned the validity of the .15 reading. “I’m not trying this case now,” Justice Rana said. She ended the discussion by setting bail at $350, which was paid.

A Woodcliff Lake, N.J., woman, Megan A. Ennis, 28, was charged with the same crime early on the morning of June 21. Police said her 2014 Land Rover had been speeding and swerving before they pulled it over on Montauk Highway near Spring Close Highway in East Hampton. At headquarters, her reported blood-alcohol percentage was .13. She has no ties to the community, the court found, and her bail was set at $500, which was posted promptly by her family.

Sag Harbor Village police stopped Mary J. Tagliasacchi, 63, early last Thursday morning on Jermain Avenue, saying her 2013 Lexus S.U.V. had been speeding. She failed the roadside sobriety test, they said, and refused to take a breath test, both at the scene and later at police headquarters. She was released without bail later that morning, with a warning that her refusal to take a breath test meant an automatic suspension of her license.

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