Should OUI Alcohol Limit Be Lowered To 0.05 Percent?

The National Transportation Safety Board recommends reducing the limit. Some say it would save lives. Others say it's unreasonable.

One drink could be the standard for drunken driving – at least for some people if the National Transporation Safety Board has its way. On Tuesday, the NTSB recommended states lower the blood-alcohol threshold for driving under the influence from 0.08 percent to 0.05 percent. What do you think? Is the proposal reasonable? About 10,000 deaths a year are related to drunken driving. The NTSB says the lower limit would save 500 to 800 lives a year. Officials at the American Beverage Institute called the proposal "ludicrous." It said the average woman could reach the 0.05 percent limit by having one drink. There were 114 OUI fatalities in Massachusetts in 2012, which were 34 percent of traffic-related fatalities last year, according to Mothers …

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High Speed Chase in Easton Leads to Drunk Driving Arrest

A Bridgewater man was arrested by Easton Police after his vehicle allegedly reached speeds over 100 mph on Turnpike Street.

  A Bridgewater man was arrested on multiple charges, including drunk driving, after a high-speed chase on Turnpike Street in Easton early Saturday. Police Chief Allen Krajcik said Russell Best II, 28, of 61 Center St., Bridgewater was charged with operating under the influence, speeding, operating to endanger, failure to stay in marked lanes and failure to stop for a police officer after he was eventually arrested on Turnpike and High Street. Krajcik said the incident occurred around 2:30am when Easton Officer Brian Humenuk clocked him on radar going 82 mph on Turnpike Street near Foundry Street heading north.  "The officer attempted to stop the vehicle but discontinued the pursuit as the vehicle accelerated to over 100MPH," Krajcik said…

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Police and Fire Log

Easton Police Make OUI Arrest on Bay Road

Two OUI incidents and a larceny incident were reported this past week in Easton

Easton Police arrested a Stoughton woman for drunk driving Sunday night on Bay Road. Kimberly Hoffman, 21, of Stoughton was arrested for operating under the influence after being pulled over at approximately 10:22 p.m. She was later released on $40 bail. Scrap Metal Stolen From Belcher Foundry Sunday at approximately 4 p.m., the environmental attorney for the Belcher Foundry reported that locks were cut and the fence at Belcher Foundry was pushed in. Scrap metal had been stolen within the past six days. OUI Arrest Thursday Night An Easton man was arrested for drunk driving on the corner of Main Street and Seaver Street Thursday night. At approximately 10:41 p.m., Ryan Elms, 30, of Turnpike Street was arrested for OUI after failure to stop…

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State Police Make 10 Drunk Driving Arrests, Issue 262 Citations in Second Surge Weekend

Police were in full force on area highways this past weekend.

In week two of a new surge plan put in place on Routes 24 and 195, State Police upped the ante. Troopers arrested 10 drivers and issued 262 citations on Friday and Saturday night for drunk driving on local highways; an increase from last week's nine arrests and 222 citations. The new plan was put in place last month in response to a slew of fatal and near-fatal accidents on Route 24, including a fatal accident in West Bridgewater near the Easton town line. 11 additional troopers were added to Routes 24 and 195 between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. Below is an official statement from Massachusetts State Police: Massachusetts State Police troopers deployed as part of the Routes 24 and 195 patrol surge made 10 drunk …

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Easton Man Arrested on Fifth Offense OUI

Neighbors allegedly said Frank Cotone was driving drunk "again."

An interlock device wasn't enough to keep an Easton resident from his fifth drunk driving charge. Frank Contone, 46, of Lot number 64 in the Easton Mobile Home Park was charged with operating under the influence and tampering with an interlock device after he crashed his truck near his home. Police Chief Allen Krajcik said police responded to 911 calls regarding an accident at the Easton Mobile Home Park at approximately 10 p.m. on Monday night. Upon arrival, police observed a 1995 Ford pickup truck with rear bumper damage. According to Krajcik, witnesses alleged that Contone had been driving drunk "again," and collided with another vehicle. After a field sobriety test, he was arrested by Officer Patrick Taylor for a fifth offense OUI, …

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Easton Man Arrested for OUI, Reckless Driving, and Possession After Randall Street Crash

Victor A Merlino was allegedly driving close to 80 mph before the accident

  An Easton man was arrested Thursday night on numerous charges after witnesses saw him allegedly drive close to 80 mph, crash his vehicle, and flee the seen of the accident, Police Chief Allen Krajcik said. Victor A Merlino, 40, of 16 Dela Park Lane, Easton was arrested for operating under the influence of drugs, reckless driving, and possession of Class E narcotics. Krajcik said witnesses spotted Merlino traveling up Black Brook Road prior to the crash traveling close to 80 mph. Witnesses also observed him flee the crash scene on foot, he said. He was placed under arrest after he was found at a home on a Randall Farm Drive. After being released on $300 cash bail, he will appear in Taunton District Court Friday.

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Easton Man Arrested After Accident, Third Offense OUI

An accident on Purchase Street Friday led to a third offense OUI arrest

An Easton resident will be arraigned in Taunton District Court Monday for his third offense of drunk driving after he was involved in a car accident on Purchase Street Friday night. Rolf Alphonse, 48, of 4 Cedar Drive in Easton, was arrested for third offense of OUI, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, speeding, and marked lanes violation after his vehicle allegedly crossed the center line and struck an oncoming vehicle filled with a family of four, Police said. Police received a 911 call at approximately 7:50 p.m. reporting an accident on Purchase Street. A second 911 call came from the driver of a vehicle who said her vehicle had been struck by Alphonse near Easton Country Club. After an investigation, Alphonse was arrested and later…

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Easton Police Make OUI, Child Endangerment Arrest

Mary Burns, of Andrews Street, was arrested for OUI and child endangerment Monday night.

  An Easton woman will be arraigned in Taunton District Court Tuesday after she was arrested for drunk driving with two 13-year-old children in the vehicle. Mary Burns, 47, of 6 Andrews Street was charged with operating under the influence of alcohol, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, marked lanes violation and two counts of child endangerment after her vehicle was pulled over on Sullivan Avenue Monday night. She was released on $140 bail. Easton Police Lieutenant Gary Sullivan said in a statement Tuesday that police received a call at approximately 9:05 p.m. reporting Burns' vehicle driving on the wrong side of Lincoln Street, heading east. The caller said Burns' vehicle almost hit a utility pole on the side of the road. Sullivan …

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Police and Fire Log

Alleged Drunk Driver Arrested Late Saturday

A Milton man's arrest is one of three OUI arrests this past week.

A Milton man was arrested by Easton Police for drunk driving late Saturday night. Davine J. Hill, 25, was pulled over at approximately 11:15 p.m. at the intersection of Susan Road and Washington Street. He was charged with operating under the influence and released on $100 bail. OUI Arrest Made Outside Sing Yee Chinese and American Restaurant A Middleboro man was arrested early in the morning Saturday after a caller described a small black SUV with its lights on outside of Sing Yee Chinese Restaurant. Efrain Vega, 25, was arrested for operating under the influence at approximately 01:50 a.m. after officers investigated the vehicle and found him inside. He was released on $140 bail. Breaking and Entering at Massopoag and Rockland At …

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Easton Police Arrest Two for OUI Tuesday

A Norton man and an Easton man were arrested by Easton police

Easton Police arrested a Norton man and an Easton man Tuesday for drinking and driving in two seperate incidents. Matthew Walsh, 50, of 205 Old Taunton Ave, Norton and Brian Van Parys, 45, of 736 Washington St., South Easton were charged with operating under the influence of alcohol.  Van Parys was also charged with operating to endanger. Both were arraigned in Taunton District Court. Walsh was pulled over at approximately 10:30 a.m. in North Easton Village Shoppes. After an investigation, Sgt. John Lynn and Det. Leonard Coe made the arrest, Police Chief Allen Krajcik said. Krajcik said Van Parys was arrested after police received a call at approximately 6 p.m. reporting him tailgating and driving recklessly. He pulled into 669 Washington …

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