Expired Registration Stop Leads To DUI Charge For New Canaan Man, 54

An expired registration tag led to the arrest of a Fairfield County man who allegedly was driving while impaired in New Canaan early over the weekend, police said.

John C. Smith.
Photo Credit: *New Canaan Police Department*

Zak Failla

04/01/2019 2:00 p.m.

Officers from the New Canaan Police Department stopped White Oak Shade Road resident John C. Smith shortly before 1:40 a.m. on Sunday, March 31, when his vehicle was spotted on Main Street with an expired registration from September last year.

During the subsequent traffic stop, officers said that it was determined that Smith showed signs of being impaired, and he proceeded to fail multiple Standardized Field Sobriety Tests and refused to submit to a breathalyzer test.

According to police, Smith was taken into custody and transported to New Canaan Police Headquarters for processing, where he again refused to submit to a test to determine his blood alcohol content.

Smith, 54, was arrested and charged with illegal operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and operation of an unregistered vehicle, both misdemeanors. He was released on $300 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, April 10 to respond to the charges.

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