The news has been abuzz with reports of disaster befalling those who failed to follow authorities’ instructions during Tropical Storm Irene, but it turns out driving on closed roads can land you in all sorts of trouble.
The Albany County Sheriff’s Office announced today the arrest of two people who allegedly circumvented barriers blocking closed roads in the wake of the storm.
One, Michael T. Jones, 22, of Voorheesville, allegedly was found to be drunk after he drove around barriers on Delaware Avenue in New Scotland on Monday, Aug. 29, at 9:15 p.m. After being stopped, police said his female passenger was found to have been reported missing from a group home in Schenectady.
After failing sobriety tests, Jones was charged with DWI, failure to obey a traffic control device, endangering the welfare of a minor and unlawful possession of marijuana, police said. A breathalyzer test allegedly showed his BAC to be .08 percent. He was scheduled to appear in the Town of New Scotland Court at a later date and released on tickets.
Sheriff’s Deputies also arrested Adam J. Mineau, 22, of Coeymans Hollow, on charges he was driving with a suspended license and had anabolic steroids in his possession.
Police allegedly saw Mineau drive around road barriers and road closure signs on Route 32 in the Town of New Scotland. He was charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third degree, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree and failure to obey a traffic control device. He was released on appearance tickets and is scheduled to appear in the Town of New Scotland Court on a later date.
The Albany County Sheriff’s Office reminded Capital District residents to heed all road closures, and said failing to do so can endanger not only a motorist’s life but those who will eventually have to rescue him or her.