by Cris Italia
I've driven home drunk before, said Jason, unwilling to reveal his last name. It's really no big deal. I live in Oceanside and it's about five minutes away.
On a usual Saturday night in the summer, Jason spends his late night hours rotating between the Bridgeview Yacht Club, Montego Bay and Paddy McGee's all of which neighbor each other. By the time I leave to go home, I'm fit to drive, he said after polishing off his first beer.
He's not the only one who makes perhaps the most irresponsible sacrifice. Alexandria lives in Queens, frequents the Island Park night life, and admits she has driven home drunk several times.
My biggest concern isn't getting home, but making sure I don't get caught, she said. I'm usually more careful when I drive home after a night out.
Last weekend, Fourth Precinct police reported 16 DWI arrests in just three days, a result, they said, of increased enforcement for the start of the summer months.
We're out patrolling all the time, but we do have more units out on Memorial Day weekend, Inspector George Gudmundsen said.
From Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, Gudmundsen says close attention is paid to the Island Park night life. That area is historic for this and we always deploy units there.
Police patrol of the area is encouraged by bar owners and management. We want police enforcement, said Mike Hammel, manager of the Bridgeview Yacht Club. We have a very good relationship and we have to work together.
Hammel added that his staff uses strict cut-off policies. We won't serve to people who are intoxicated. We are very strict and we use our own discretion, he said.
In addition to strict policies, Bridgeview's head of security is a member of Bartenders Against Drunk Driving (BADD). He carries a breathalyzer with him and he will use it before someone steps into their car if he feels that they are unfit to drive, Hammel said. Also, vallet attendents are told to with hold keys if they feel that the person is unfit to drive.
Unfortunately not everyone can be stopped, but Hammel states that in the end, people are responsible for their own actions.
Over the years DWIs have become an increasing problem, Gudmundson said. It's not because more people are driving drunk, but now we are detecting more.
Jason says he's never been pulled over for a traffic violation. I don't drive erratic. Most of the time I keep under the speed limit and make it home okay.
Alexandria says she does have a limit, not when drinking, but driving distance. I won't drive home from the Hamptons or from Manhattan drunk. The distances are further and driving drunk in the city is too dangerous.
Jason and Alexandria's chances of getting arrested are high, according to Gudmundsen. If you drive drunk [along Long Beach Road] we are going to find you and arrest you.
A warning to all.
Arrested for DWI on Memorial Day Weekend
1) Stephen Modzelewski, 34, of Ozone Park
Arrested on Austin Blvd., Island Park
2) Elvis Contrino, 24, of Oceanside
Arrested on Long Beach Rd., Long Beach
3) Jose Benites, 25, of Oceanside
Arrested on Oceanside Rd., Oceanside
4)Gina Boccia, 27, of Valley Stream
Arrested on Lawson Blvd., Oceanside
5) Jimmy Ciotti 55, of Long Beach
Arrested on Austin Blvd., Island Park
6) James Maffucci, 23, of Brooklyn
Arrested on Thompson Ave., Oceanside
7) Steven DeFrank, 21, of Baldwin
Arrested on Lawson Blvd., Oceanside
8) Emmanuel Siouk, 25, of Garden City
Arrested on Austin Blvd., Island Park
9) Johel Zambrano, 32, of Long Beach
Arrested off of Long Beach Rd., Island Park
10) Kerri Moser, 30, of Brooklyn
Arrested on Austin Blvd., Island Park
11) Inez Barbiero, 20, of East Rockaway
Arrested on Austin Blvd., Island Park
12) Lucia Giraldi, 19, of Throgs Neck
Arrested on Long Beach Rd., Oceanside
13) Kristy Lituma, 20, of Flushing
Arrested on Austin Blvd., Island Park
14) Claudio Aguilar, 39, of Oceanside
Arrested on Long Beach Rd., Oceanside
15) Francis Florio, 39, of Long Beach
Arrested on Austin Blvd., Island Park
16) Tracy Trousdell, 37, of Freeport
Arrested on Austin Blvd., Island Park
