A New Jersey man with four children in his car was hit with felony drunken driving charges after he was stopped by police for driving 74 mph on Route 303, according to Orangetown Police.
Brandon Spurlin, 40, of 383 Hoffman Ave., New Milford, NJ, is accused of violating New York State's Leandra's Law, which calls for felony-level penalties for those convicted of drunken driving while having children as passengers in their vehicle. Children ages 14, 12, 10 and 6 were in the car with him when he was stopped by police.
Orangetown police said Spurlin was driving even though his license had been suspended twice in New York. Additionally, police said the 6-year-old in the car was not in an appropriate child restraint.
As a result of the incident, police said a referral has been made to Rockland County Child Protective Services to further investigate the matter.
Spurlin was stopped on Route 303 in Blauvelt at about 9:35 p.m. Friday. Police said he was driving a 2008 Land Rover south, traveling 74 mph in a 40 mph zone. He was also cited for several other traffic violations.
Police said Spurlin appeared intoxicated when he was stopped by police and he then failed several field sobriety tests. Spurlin was taken to Orangetown police headquarters in Orangeburg, where police said he failed a chemical breath test for alcohol.
Spurlin faces a hearing in Orangetown Town Court in Orangeburg on Tuesday, Sept. 25.
