Unlicensed Drivers Abound In Southampton Village

The debate rages in New York State: should undocumented immigrants be given the option of applying for a state driver’s license? Proponents of the bill say it will allow applicants to attend safe-driving classes and pass a standardized test before being issued a legal driver’s license.

One thing is for certain — a lot of folks, legal residents or otherwise, are operating vehicles without the proper credentials.

Take Southampton Village: A typical week involves processing several drivers who, stopped for one offense, turn out to have another, more egregious problem.

For example, on July 30, at approximately 8:19 AM, Oscar Cabrera-Santos was arrested on North Main Street and charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, a misdemeanor. Cabrera-Santos was found to be in possession of a stolen Florida license plate from Miami.

That same morning, Sergio Ottoniel Lopez-Godoy, 31, of Shirley, was arrested on Halsey Farm Drive and charged with circumventing an interlock device and aggravated unlicensed operations in the second degree, both misdemeanors. His vehicle was impounded and he was processed and released after posting $250 cash at arraignment.

The trend continued throughout the week: Alejandro Castro-Segura, 25, was charged with operating a vehicle with a suspended registration, a misdemeanor, July 31. Erik Guzowski, age 48, of Staten Island, was arrested on Hill Street and charged with second-degree aggravated unlicensed operations and operating a vehicle with a suspended registration, both misdemeanors, on August 1.

Later that day, Yirso Escalanteoritz, 36, of Riverhead, was arrested on Hill Street and charged with operating a vehicle with a suspended registration, a misdemeanor. Kevin Ehm, 31, of Shirley, was also arrested on Hill Street and charged with operating a vehicle with a suspended registration, a misdemeanor. Raymond Abbott, 38, of West Sayville, was arrested on Wickapogue Road and charged with second-degree aggravated unlicensed operations, a misdemeanor. Douglas Madriz, 48, of Bay Shore, was arrested on Hill Street and charged with operating a vehicle with a suspended registration, a misdemeanor. Dennis French, 24, of Riverhead was arrested on Hill Street and charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operations, a misdemeanor.