Scituate police: Drivers' licenses suspended many times
12:24 PM Mon, Oct 19, 2009 | Permalink
Email
 |
 |
Projo 7 to 7 News BlogTaking the news pulse of Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts, by Providence Journal and projo.com staff, from 7 to 7, every business day |
|
Get the 7 to 7 on your mobile at www.projo.com. Twitter: projo | RSS | Email alerts
« ME: Single stab wound killed UConn football player |
Main
| Connecticut casinos slot revenues drop in September »
SCITUATE, R.I. -- Town police stopped two cars over the past week and discovered that the drivers had suspended licenses and were frequent offenders. For one driver it was the 17th such offense. For the other it was the 18th time, according to Deputy Police Chief Stephen B. Lang. He said the suspects also were on probation and suspended sentences from previous cases. "It's disgusting. It's disgraceful," Lang said. "The two of them should be riding a RIPTA bus together." He said one of the drivers, Paul Rocha, 47, of 348 Old Plainfield Pike, formerly of South Kingstown, has lacked a valid license since 1984. Rocha has been arrested 37 times in Rhode Island over the years, he said. He said Rocha's record in traffic court is eight pages long. "I've seen four pages," Lang said, "but never eight pages. He has total disregard for every other human being on the road." Lang said that Rhode Island law should be amended to follow the pattern for cases of domestic assault, in which a third offense automatically rises to the level of a felony, carrying a more serious penalty. He said the state of Massachusetts already has such a law. "When you look at the amount of bad accidents we have, or the [drunk-driving cases], most of the time we discover that their licenses were suspended," he said. In the first case, on Thursday, Patrolman Mathew King reported he saw a large windshield crack on a passing car driven by Rocha. King halted the car on Tunk Hill Road. When he checked the driver's record, Lang said, he learned that Rocha had just been released from prison a month ago after serving a term for assault with a dangerous weapon. Rocha has a three-year suspended sentence hanging over his head, Lang said, and three years of probation. Rocha had been charged 16 times for driving on a suspended license, Lang reported. The deputy chief said that Rocha has a criminal record going back to 1983 that includes drunk driving, assault, breaking and entering, drag racing and resisting arrest. He said Bail Commissioner Richard Finnegan set bail at $10,000, which Rocha posted. The suspect is to appear Oct. 28 in Kent County District Court, Warwick. A passenger in Rocha's car, Heidi Cetenich, 38, of the same address, was wanted on a court warrant in an unrelated case, Lang said. He said she was held at the Adult Correctional Institutions pending a court appearance. In the other case, Sgt. Donald Delaere saw a car pass on Hartford Pike and recognized the driver, Robert A. Notarianni, 44, of 47 Cucumber Hill Rd., Foster. Delaere knew that Notarianni had a suspended license, and halted the car, Lang said. "Notarianni said, 'Give me a break -- I'm just driving to Providence and I almost have my license reinstated,' " Lang said. The deputy chief said that Notarianni was still on probation from a charge of driving on a suspended license brought by Scituate police that was imposed on him in January. Bail Commissioner Finnegan set bail at $5,000, which Notarianni posted. The suspect is to appear in Kent County District Court Oct. 28. "This will be his 18th offense for suspended license," Lang said. "He has a total of 23 arrests, including shoplifting, resisting arrest, and possession of marijuana." 
CommentsLeave a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
Tags 
New comments
New photos
New posts
Projo blogs
Archives
Nice people. These people will stop driving only when incarcerated. OK, let's incarcerate them. That's no less than what they deserve for flaunting the law.
Report Abuse
felony after third offense? you have to take into consideration why it was suspended...i have had mine suspended for reasons like nonpayment of parking or minor traffic violation...a license suspension does not necessarily make you a menace on the road
Report Abuse
Since jail doesn't seem to work, and taking away a license doesn't seem to work, how about taking the vehicle away?? Let's see a forfeiture program initiated whereby a vehicle can be forfeited to the State for repeat driving offenders...just like money, cars, houses are forfeited for drug dealers.
Report Abuse
Vt has also had the law concerning 3rd time is a felony for many many years. Of course if they plea bargain it down that's another story. Both of these men should be in jail where they won't have to worry about driving.Suspended since 1984! Arrested 37 times! What are the courts waiting for..him to actually kill someone? Give me a break!!
Report Abuse
although these two clowns behavior seemed lot worse than just driving badly...
Report Abuse
Bail Commissioner Finnegan is a joke, he walks around the court house doing nothing all day. There is a spot the state can get rid of
Report Abuse
As stated, an unpaid parking ticket might get your license suspended. Or maybe they moved, and never got the renewal in the mail.
And the one guy had "possession of marijuana" listed as a cause of arrest. Gimme a break. Pot smoking should NOT be a crime anyway.
We should find ways to help these people out. Why do a lot of posters always say "put them in jail"? It costs us almost $50,000 a year to put one person in jail. I rather spend a few thousand to help them get squared away and stay out of jail.
Report Abuse
Why incarcerate them? The 37 times he's been arrested, he's probably had to pay fines...more money for the state to mismanage!
MA has vehicle forfeiture for 4th or 5th offense convictions of drunk driving. Not a bad idea, taking the vehicle, selling it, and returning the money into the "pot" that is depleting faster than we can fill it.
What a joke! I hope they get something more than a slap on the wrist, though.
Report Abuse
I agree 100% with Deputy Chief Lang. A third time turning into a felony will deter this offense from being an issue. Police will be able to focus on more important issues other than having to take these fools into custody constantly.
Report Abuse
If taking away their license didn't work, how do you think taking away their cars will? They will just have the car registered to someone else or not registered at all. These two along with the thousands of others don't care for anyone but themselves. Selfish, hurtful, ignorant jerks! When they hit and injure an innocent person or family, they'll walk away like everybody else does with a slap on the wrist - only to do it again! Sentence them to taking care of a permanently injured individual - chainging their depends, feeding them and cleaning them and perhaps, then they may see the light.
Report Abuse
For you liberals out there...this is what happens when liberal judges are appointed to the judiciary. If you look at the RI Judiciary criminal records, these guys, as many times as they have been arrested, are minor leaguers compared to some others who have been arrested over 100 times and are still out.
Report Abuse
Bail Commissioner Finnegan is obsolete in today's need for justice. he has such a cushy job. he will stay there until he is forced into retirement. they call him dusty now.
finnegan is too old and stuburn to change with the times.
i just don't understand why these state workers do not get a performance review to see if they are not slackers
Report Abuse
Jail both of them for at least a year. And jail the bail commissioner for 30 days for good measure. These judicial wimps who turn repeat offenders loose on our streets should bear the burden for their incompetence. Lang calling it disgusting and disgraceful is 100% accurate.
Report Abuse
Start taking away their cars and don't give them back auction them off. These crazies belong behind bars. Again, the laws need to be updated to deal with these low life scum.
Report Abuse