4 locals arrested after countywide sweep
22 Nassau residents caught violating state’s ignition interlock requirements
Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice and County Executive Edward P. Mangano announced on Aug. 22 that 22 county residents — two of whom are Franklin Square residents, and two of whom are from Elmont — were arrested in a sweep targeting convicted drunk drivers who attempted to bypass required ignition interlock devices in their vehicles.
Chris Munzing, a spokesman for the D.A.’s Office, said that all of the residents arrested during the sweep were charged with driving with a suspended license, and 20 were also charged with interlock violations.
Elmont residents Steven Jones, 36, and Fred Beale, 56; and Franklin Square residents Farhan Khan, 22, and John Mollo, 32, were charged with both driving with suspended license and violating the New York State interlock law.
The state’s interlock law went into effect on Aug. 15, 2010, requiring all convicted drunken drivers to install and use ignition interlocks — breath-test devices linked to a vehicles’ ignition systems that prevent cars from starting if alcohol is detected in a driver’s breath, and re-test periodically while cars are on the road — on their vehicles for a minimum of six months.
Offenders required to have ignition interlock devices are not permitted to drive in any vehicle without them, and must pay for the device.
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 the individual’s probation officer, the D.A.’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.
The two-week sweep, conducted by the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office in conjunction with the Nassau County Department of Probation, used surveillance on convicted drunk drivers to ensure that they complied with the law. Munzing denied to comment on what kind of surveillance the D.A.’s Office used, explaining that that information could interfere with the county’s investigation.
