Nassau County - Long Island, New York

Sweep Nets 22 Convicted Drunk Drivers for Ignition Interlock Violations

Many of the defendants were arrested after driving to probation meetings

Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano and District Attorney Kathleen Rice announced today that a sweep targeting convicted drunk drivers who attempted to bypass required ignition interlock devices in their vehicles has resulted in 22 arrests.

The two-week sweep, conducted by the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office in conjunction with Nassau’s Department of Probation, used surveillance on convicted drunk drivers to ensure their compliance with the law. Offenders required to have ignition interlock devices are not permitted to drive in any vehicle without them, and must pay for the device.

Ignition interlock devices became mandatory for any drunk driver sentenced on or after August 15, 2010. The device requires the driver to pass a breath test in order to start the vehicle, as well as “rolling retests” until the vehicle is stopped and turned off. If the device detects alcohol on the driver’s breath, the horn will honk, the lights will flash, and the driver is instructed to stop the car. In some cases the police may respond to investigate. In all cases, a notice of violation will be sent to Probation, the DA’s Office, and the court. In addition, the vehicle will enter “lockout” mode, preventing the car from starting if the driver does not report to the service provider.

Some of the drivers were caught leaving their homes, but most were arrested after driving illegally to meet with their probation officers. The Department of Probation and the DA’s Office will continue to conduct spot checks on convicted drunk drivers going forward. A judge can sentence each of the defendants to up to a year in jail if convicted, as well as re-sentence them on their underlying DWI case.

Statistics have shown that thirty to fifty percent of first time drunk drivers in New York State will reoffend,” said County Executive Mangano.“The power of ignition interlock technology is that it prevents convicted drunk drivers from starting their vehicles if they have been drinking. As of August 15, 2011, at the one-year anniversary of Leandra’s Law, 1,717 drunk drivers in Nassau have been sentenced to either probation or a conditional discharge and mandated to install an interlock device.This brings the total to more than 3,000 DWI offenders currently under supervision of the Nassau County Probation Department of which approximately 900 of these individuals have ignition interlock devices installed in their vehicles.These statistics speak volumes about the severity of this life threatening issue.We will continue to work collaboratively with the District Attorney to deter drunk driving and to enforce compliance with those who have been convicted of this reckless act.”

Ignition interlocks protect innocent drivers and pedestrians by forcing drunk drivers to prove that they are sober when they get behind the wheel,” Rice said. “These arrests should send a clear message that law enforcement is watching convicted drunk drivers closely, and this sting is just the beginning of a broader effort to ensure compliance with the ignition interlock law.”

The following defendants were charged with Operating a Motor Vehicle Without a Court-Ordered Interlock and driving with suspended license:

  • James Lynch, 27, of Baldwin
  • Jason Aragon, 30, of East Rockaway
  • Darrell Hampton, 35, of Freeport
  • Kenneth Hock, 47, of Rockville Centre
  • Daniel Dillon, 26, of Baldwin
  • Christopher Demir, 22, of Bethpage
  • Maria Kinalis, 23, of Bethpage
  • Farhan Khan, 22, of Franklin Square
  • Jose Bermudez, 32, of Hempstead
  • Steven Jones, 36, of Elmont
  • Patrick Roberts, 41, of Uniondale
  • Bryan Negrete, 20, of Freeport
  • Peter Siciliano, 50, of Plainview
  • Fred Beale 56, of Elmont
  • John Mollo, 32, of Franklin Square
  • Kevin Mack, 38, of Freeport
  • Christopher Ramos, 42, of Glen Head
  • Mitchell Bogdanov, 24, of Bayside
  • Brian Pymm, 26, of Kings Point
  • Christine Colasanto, 28, of Valley Stream

Two more defendants, Silvana Miranda, 37, of Brooklyn, and William Mauz, 32, of Bethpage, were arrested and charged with driving with a suspended license.