East Hampton Town police arrested three men in recent days, two after accidents, on charges of driving without valid licenses or court-ordered ignition interlock devices, which test for the presence of alcohol on a driver’s breath before the engine will turn over. All three were charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the second degree and driving without an interlock device, misdemeanors.
Clint A. Bennett, 61, of East Hampton was charged on Sept. 28 at about 3:45 p.m. following an accident in the One Stop Market parking lot on Springs-Fireplace Road, East Hampton. Brian Hurtado, a 23-year-old from East Hampton, told police his 2019 Honda sedan was struck from behind by a 1997 Ford pickup truck, driven by Mr. Bennett, who was backing out of a spot. No one was injured.
Police found that the Ford pickup belonged to Elizabeth A. Bennett and had no interlock device. Mr. Bennett is not supposed to be driving any vehicle without one, they said.
He was also driving without a valid license. His was revoked on Oct. 9, 2018, following a drunken-driving charge, and has not yet been restored. Police released him on $100 bail with a ticket to appear in Justice Court on Oct. 23.
On Saturday, police were called to an accident on Three Mile Harbor-Hog Creek Road, near Flaggy Hole Road in Springs, at about 6:55 p.m. Jorge M. Rivadeneira said he was traveling south in a 2005 Dodge pickup when a deer ran into the road, which caused him to swerve and hit a tree on the east side of the road. About a minute later, a 2015 Toyota sedan hit the Dodge, which was on the wrong side of the road without any headlights. Phyllis M. Italiano, 83, told police she did not see the Dodge until it was too late.
Police found that Mr. Rivadeneira, a 38-year-old who also lives in Springs, was driving without a valid license — his license was revoked in April 2016, also for driving while intoxicated. The police report said the Dodge, which was registered to GB Construction Service Inc. of East Hampton, should have been outfitted with an ignition interlock device.
Mr. Rivadeneira posted $100 bail and was released from custody. He too is due in court on Oct. 23.
Also on Saturday, a Flanders man was arrested on the same charges. Police said Robinson D. Mayen-Ruiz, 27, was driving a 2006 Toyota Scion without a valid license. His license was revoked and suspended in 2017 and again in August, on alcohol-related charges. He was issued an appearance ticket and released on $100 bail.
On Sept. 30 at about 10 p.m., police charged a Springs man with drunken driving after they allegedly saw him tailgating another vehicle.
Jared C. Crozier, 29, was driving a 2001 Ford north on North Main Street, near Three Mile Harbor Road in East Hampton, when he “unsafely” followed the other car. An officer performed a traffic stop and said Mr. Crozier appeared intoxicated. He reportedly performed poorly on field sobriety tests before being charged with the misdemeanor.
Mr. Crozier was held overnight and arraigned the next morning before East Hampton Town Justice Steven Tekulsky, who released him on his own recognizance.