Sobriety Checkpoint Yields DUI, Drug, Vehicular Violations

By Andrew Gorosko

During a sobriety checkpoint held on the evening of Saturday, May 2, and early morning hours of Sunday, May 3, town police charged three motorists with driving under the influence, and also charged others with illegal alcohol possession, and drug offenses, plus violations of motor vehicle laws.

Police conducted the eight-hour checkpoint on Wasserman Way, near the commuter parking lot for Exit 11 of Interstate 84.

Police stopped all drivers passing by the checkpoint in both directions for brief interviews to learn whether the motorists were under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Police diverted drivers requiring closer investigation into the commuter parking lot, said Sergeant Douglas Wisentaner.

The area carries heavy traffic as Wasserman Way links Route 34 (Berkshire Road) to Route 25 (South Main Street). The site also is near an interstate highway interchange.

About 9:28 pm on May 2 at the sobriety checkpoint, police stopped motorist Cody Bartosik, 18, of Monroe. The vehicle that Bartosik was driving held multiple open containers of alcohol, police said. Their investigation indicated that Bartosik was intoxicated, police added.

Police said they arrested him on charges of driving under the influence under age 21 and possession of alcohol by a minor in a motor vehicle.

Following arrest processing, police released Bartosik on $100 bail for a May 15 appearance in Danbury Superior Court.

At the checkpoint at 11:26 pm May 2 , police stopped motorist Christopher Clark, 40, of Danbury and gave him field sobriety tests, after which they charged him with driving under the influence. Police released him on $100 bail for a May 15 court appearance.

At 11:59 pm May 2, police pulled over motorist Andrew Traggianese, 18, of Easton. Police said they found that Traggianese was driving while under the influence of marijuana. Police said they found a smoking pipe in his possession which they seized.

Police arrested Traggianese on charges of driving under the influence under age 21 and possession of drug paraphernalia. Traggianese was released on $100 bail for a May 19 court appearance, police report.

At 12:38 am on May 3, police stopped motorist Emily Donofrio, 20, of Ridgefield at the checkpoint to investigate. Police said they issued her a $136 infraction ticket for possession of alcohol by a minor in public. Also, police gave Donofrio a written warning for possession of alcohol by a minor in a motor vehicle.

That investigation also led to police to charge vehicle passenger, Giovanni Dillard, 20, of Danbury with possession of less than four ounces of marijuana, police said. Police released Dillard on a written promise to appear May 19 in Danbury Superior Court.

Also, during the checkpoint, police issued seven motor vehicle infractions to motorists. They involved driving unregistered vehicles, driving without licenses, failure to renew a license, and driving without wearing a seatbelt, according to Sgt Wisentaner.

Motorists also received 45 motor vehicle warnings. They covered violations including improper turns, defective windshields, defective lights, improper registration displays, failure to wear seatbelts, failure to carry a license, and failure to drive to the right.

Sgt Wisentaner said that more sobriety checkpoints will be held during the coming months.

Three-quarters of the police overtime costs of holding such specialized DUI enforcement projects is covered by federal highway safety grant money.