Crime & Safety

DUI Checkpoint Results in 3 DUIs, 3 Marijuana Citations

A DUI checkpoint set up by Darien police on Hoyt Street resulted in three arrests for driving while under the influence, three charges of marijuana possession (at the level of an infraction), and three charges of possession of alcohol by a minor.

The checkpoint, staffed with Darien, state police and Stamford police, was set up on Hoyt near Phillips Lane and Lake Drive on Thursday, July 25, and Friday, July 26. Police publicized it only with postings on the department's Facebook page, and on Twitter, not a press release to local news organizations.

According to the Facebook posting, the checkpoint resulted in these charges:

  • Three DUI arrests.
  • Three infractions for possession of alcohol by a minor
  • Three infractions for marijuana possession
  • Four infractions for operating a motor vehicle without a license
  • One summons for operating a motor vehicle with a suspended driver's license
  • One summons for operating a motor vehicle with a suspended registration
  • One summons for operating a motor vehicle without insurance
  • One arrest for having a weapon in a motor vehicle
  • Four infractions for failure to secure a child with a safety belt
  • Numerous written and verbal warnings for equipment violations.
At a news briefing, police gave accounts (which are accusations not proven in court) of this DUI arrest and marijuana infraction citations:

  • Thursday, 11:45 p.m.: A 24-year-old Stamford woman received an infraction ticket for her second offence of possessing less than half an ounce of marijuana. (A second offense carries a $250 fine.) After a police officer talking with the woman smelled unburned marijuana, Darien police dog Zulu found it in the center console of the car. Numerous used marijuana cigarettes were found throughout the vehicle, police said.
  • Thursday,  11:10 p.m.: A 35-year-old Stamford woman who was a passenger in a car was charged with possession of less than half an ounce of marijuana, which was in her purse. The driver admitted he and his passenger had been smoking marijuana, and some marijuana ashes were found in a car ashtray. The driver was not charged.
  • Thursday, 11:03 p.m.: Kathleen D'Agostino of Country Club Road in New Canaan was charged with driving while intoxicated. After police stopped her 2012 BMW, an officer saw her eyes were glassy and smelled an odor alcohol as he talked with her. She failed field sobriety tests and was arrested, then later posted a $250 bond. She is scheduled to appear Monday, Aug. 5, in state Superior Court in Stamford.
Darien Patch will ask for information on the other DUI arrests and charges of possession of alcohol by a minor.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.