Slow Weekend for D.W.I.s

A Springs man, who was pulled over by an East Hampton Village police officer Friday night for alleged traffic violations, was ultimately charged with aggravated drunken driving.



Joseph Thomas McBride III, 22, was said by police to have had the “four-way flashers illuminated” on his 2005 Chevrolet Silverado while tailgating an eastbound car on Pantigo Road. He then passed the vehicle over the marked hazard zone in the center of road.



Failing roadside sobriety tests, Mr. McBride was taken to the department’s Cedar Street headquarters, where an Intoxilyzer breath test produced a blood alcohol reading of .18 of 1 percent, high enough to trigger the aggravated charge.



Mr. McBride’s attorney, Marie Elena Klarman, told East Hampton Town Justice Lisa R. Rana that Mr. McBride was a lifetime resident, a community volunteer, and asked that he be released without bail. Justice Rana complied.



Ms. Klarman said she was standing in for the arraignment and that the defendant would be hiring a criminal defense attorney. She asked if Mr. McBride could “apply for a conditional license to allow him to work.” Justice Rana said he could do so as soon as he hires his attorney, but warned that a conditional license was not guaranteed.



As the officer removed Mr. McBride’s handcuffs and prisoner’s belt, he asked if he could ride back to headquarters in the squad car, in order to get his possessions. But Ms. Klarman told Mr. McBride that he should ride back with his father, who was in the courtroom. He did so.



There were two other arrests over the Presidents Day weekend on driving-while-intoxicated charges, but police have not released reports for Edgar Roman Villa Albarracin or Arlene P. Tesarcella. They were arraigned in Southampton Town Justice Court on Tuesday so that East Hampton’s town justices, Ms. Rana and Steven Tekulsky, could complete required legal education, which had been scheduled.