Nassau DA Calls Alleged License Suspension Scofflaw A 'Menace'

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Long Island man remained behind bars Friday evening after 50 different license suspensions or revocations, and the Nassau County District Attorney's office called him a "menace to innocent motorists and their families."

As CBS 2's Jennifer McLogan reported, John Auteri, 48, was busted at 9:55 a.m. Thursday, when Suffolk County police Fifth Precinct Officer Paul Rocchio was patrolling in Medford when and allegedly caught Auteri failing to signal as he turned into the parking lot of 580 Route 112 in his 2007 Chrysler.

Rocchio pulled over Auteri, and found out he had 49 prior license suspensions and revocations, which had happened on at least 20 different dates as far back as 1986, police said.

Auteri was arrested the first time in September 1992, police said. He has served jail time on three felony convictions of aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

"It shouldn't happen even once," one man said. "It shouldn't happen, not 50 times."

"Something should be done to take these people off the streets," a woman said.

"Why is he even allowed to be on the road?" another woman said.

Auteri's license and car were confiscated, but he drove anyway. A Nassau County Assistant District Attorney told a judge, "Auteri is a menace to motorists."

Auteri pleaded not guilty to the latest charges.

Records showed many of Auteri's pull-overs resulted in multiple charges, and thus, suspensions mounted each time he failed to show up in Traffic Court to face a judge.

Noted Long Island attorney Philip Murphy said it is about a lack of funds to pay the fines.

"And a lot of these fines accumulate. There are surcharges, and it adds up to a lot of money," Murphy said. "People are trying to support their children; they think they've got to put food on the table and pay the rent before they pay the Department of Motor Vehicles. They take the chance and they drive."

The chance that an unlicensed driver will be arrested on any given trip is one and 50, according to AAA. Many are lobbying for stricter laws to seize cars and send scofflaws to jail.

"The figures point to the fact that these people are bad drivers, and they're causing problems for the good drivers out there on the road," said AAA spokesman Robert Sinclair.

The latest studies showed 20 percent of all fatal accidents involve at least one driver who did not have a valid license and was a repeat offender.

And as for Auteri, he won't be driving again anytime soon. He is being held on felony charges and $200,000 bond.

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