A 42-year-old man was charged with driving under the influence after a police officer driving behind him paced the man’s car at 71 mph on the Post Road near Hecker Avenue at 5:41 p.m., Sunday, police said.
Police described the incident with this account (with accusations not proven in court):
The officer saw a dark-colored 2000 Subaru Legacy traveling west on the Post Road near Rings End Road at what seemed like a high rate of speed. The officer followed the car and paced it for a short distance (that is, the patrol car maintained the same distance and the officer looked at the speedometer). The car was speeding at 71 mph at least at one point.
The speed limit in that area is clearly marked as 35 mph.
The officer pulled over the car on the Post Road not far from Darien Library. When the officer spoke to the driver, a Norwalk resident, the officer could smell the odor of alcohol coming from the car.
The driver said he drank three beers recently and repeatedly said that all he wanted to do was go home. He said he was driving back home from a funeral in Stamford but didn’t think he was driving fast.
The man agreed to take field sobriety tests, and when he got out of the car, the officer smelled alcohol on his breath. The driver’s eyes were bloodshot and glassy. He didn’t pass any of the three field sobriety tests he was given.
The man was charged with speeding and driving while under the influence of alcohol. He refused to take breath tests at Police Headquarters. Later, he was released on $180 bond and his vehicle was towed.