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The June 20 incident began when an Easton officer on stationary radar on Route 59 north of North Park Avenue clocked a motor vehicle traveling south at 71 mph in a 40 mph zone, police said.
The vehicle crossed the double yellow lines several times as the officer caught up, police said. It took the driver about 1 mile to pull over, police said.
Immediately, the officer noticed the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on the driver's breath, police said.
The driver, Samuel L. Hartley, 42, of 50 Burroughs Road, Easton, was asked to perform a few field sobriety tests, but he had much difficulty following the officer's directions, police said.
Placed under arrest, Hartley refused an attorney, refused to take a breath test and signed a refusal of consent for analysis of blood, breath or urine, police said. He also refused to be fingerprinted, which as of October 2016 is a Class E Felony in Connecticut.
The officer explained this and asked Hartley several times to reconsider, but he continued to refuse, police said.
Hartley was charged with speeding, driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and failure to be fingerprinted. He was released on $100 cash bond with a court date of July 10.
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