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Crime & Safety

Cops: Repeat DWI Offender Had Child Passenger

Man with a prior DWI conviction charged with driving drunk in Hampton Bays.

An East Patchogue man faces a felony driving while intoxicated charge after he was pulled over in Hampton Bays Sunday and found to be drunk behind the wheel with a child passenger, according to police.

Southampton Town police said 56-year-old Lawrence Clark was driving north on Ponquogue Avenue shortly after midnight when police stopped him for failing to stay in his lane.

Clark was charged with a felony count of DWI, due to a drunk driving conviction within the past 10 years, and a felony count of aggravated DWI with a child passenger under Leandra's Law, which sharpens DWI penalties when a passenger is 15 or younger. He was further charged with endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor. The child was 15 year old, according to police.

Police said the child was released into the custody of family members and Child Protective Services was notified. Clark's vehicle was impounded and he was held for morning arraignment in Southampton Town Justice Court.

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