Drunken driver didn't have valid license since 1984

Worcester (MA) Telegram and Gazette ^ | 11/20/03 | Thompson

[pabianice]

MARLBORO, MA - Robert J. Sheridan, the Hudson man facing his ninth drunken-driving charge, hasn't had a valid driver's license since 1984, but he has kept on driving.

"1984 is the last time he had a valid license. Since then he has had OUI offenses in Massachusetts and New Hampshire," Erin Deveney, chief counsel for the state Registry of Motor Vehicles, said yesterday. "Despite not having a legal right to drive in Massachusetts, he was simply driving anyway."

Mr. Sheridan, 40, of 102 Central St., was arrested Friday after he slammed his car into a police cruiser on Route 20 near the Sudbury line. His charges include a ninth drunken-driving offense, driving with a suspended license and failing to submit to sobriety tests. He is being held without bail pending the outcome of a hearing tomorrow to determine whether he poses a danger to the public.

Mr. Sheridan's driving history with the Registry has 11 pages of infractions dating back to 1982, when he was 19. The charges span 15 jurisdictions in Massachusetts alone. In 1982 and 1983, his record shows accidents in Canton and Quincy that could create insurance surcharges. In 1984, at the age of 21, his license was revoked indefinitely for driving under the influence of alcohol. Between 1984 and 1991, he was convicted of drunken driving six times in Massachusetts and two times in New Hampshire.

Both states have revoked Mr. Sheridan's driving privileges for more than 10 years and deemed him a habitual traffic offender, but that hasn't kept him from driving. He has been arrested several times and charged with driving with a suspended license or on warrants for failing to show up in court. During some of those arrests, he refused to take a Breathalizer test, according to his driving history.

He appeared in Brockton District Court Aug. 2, 2000, on a summons for driving with a suspended license. The case was continued without a finding until Jan. 30, 2002, according to an employee in the clerk's office. In April, 2002, Boxboro Police Sgt. Warren Ryder said he arrested Mr. Sheridan for an outstanding warrant and driving with a revoked license. He did not know the disposition of that case.

Mr. Sheridan was arrested in Lynn on March 26 and charged with failure to stop and driving with a suspended license. A warrant was issued Sept. 23 after Mr. Sheridan failed to appear in Lynn District Court, according to court records.

Ms. Deveney said each time Mr. Sheridan is convicted, additional license suspension time is added to his record, but that's not enough to stop him from driving. An additional 545 days of suspension will be tacked on if he is convicted of the Marlboro charges.

"These are the records we find particularly disturbing, that someone obviously has no regard for the law or public safety. It's frustrating for us as an agency that we do everything the law requires us to do, but we have no power to keep from driving," Ms. Deveney said. "The only good thing about Mr. Sheridan's record is that he hasn't been involved in any type of fatality at this point."

Police Chief Mark F. Leonard said he doesn't know what the answer is.

"You just hope that he does get convicted and the sentence is one that hopefully will have an impact on him," Chief Leonard said. "So that when he gets out, he'll rethink things, but his track record doesn't' seem to indicate that."

[pabianice]

Time for mandatory prison for such people.

[FreePaul]

In Massachusetts a drunken driver who kills someone may be sentenced to serve in the United States Senate. It's happened before.

[theDentist]

I actually know this guy. He's nice when he's sober, but that's been a long time ago.

[Fudd]

We clearly need more laws to prevent people like this from driving on the road.

[flashbunny]

This also shows the need to license and register all gun owners.

[lormand]

Results from another drunk a^%hole from mAssHoleChewzit

[beelzepug]

"...someone obviously has no regard for the law or public safety."

Those "someones" would be the legislature of these states who are unable to pass meaningful laws to take such people of the road. What possible good can more suspension time be for a man who has no intention to ever quit driving? Lawmakers are allowing him to play Russian roulette with the motoring public. 11 pages of violations? Give him about twenty years in jail to think it over.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

So...how did he get license plates ? In many states, you cannot get plates without a valid drivers license and proof of insurance.

[Panzerfaust]

Probably borrows a car or just drives one that is unregistered/uninsured. I think the only solution is prison. Can't drive if you are in the lock-up.

He will eventually kill someone. Maybe a vengeful relative of the victim will handle it on their own. He can't drive with both eyes put out. Accidents happen.

[redheadtoo]

My sister-in-law's father was recently killed by a driver who was under the influence of meth. He has had previous convictions for driving under the influence.

This driver was sentenced to 17 months for parole violation and 6 months for killing a pedestrian. The sentences are to run concurrently. In other words this piece of slime gets no extra jail time for running down a man who was jogging in his own neighborhood.

[pchuck]

A driver's license is a piece of plastic to this guy. Most criminals don't say, "hey, I shouldn't do this because I don't have a piece of paper or plastic". Methinks the guy needs to spend some time in jail and while he is at it, AA/12 Step might be a good idea.

[VeniVidiVici]

So...how did he get license plates ? In many states, you cannot get plates without a valid drivers license and proof of insurance.

Silly New Englanders. Don't they know you just have to give someone, anyone, a drivers license and they will then purchase insurance and become a safe driver on our roadways?

[Exeter]

The only workable solution to a menace like this is to pass a law giving the police the authority to immediately impound the vehicle the recidivist DUI is driving, whether it belongs to him or not. A magistrate can then decide whether to return the car to the rightful owner if it belongs to someone else. If, however, the owner is shown to have a history of loaning his car to this person, then the judge should have the authority to keep the car. Either the drunk runs out of cars or runs out of friends with cars, but the bottom line is that the rest of us will be safer.

[longtermmemmory]

This case aside, if you don't drive these days you can't earn a living or function in society. (not everyone wants to move to NY.)

We need solutions for these chronics, at least the ones that reform. Ingnition interlocks, or work hour permits. I am not saying we have to redeem everyone. There just has to be something to get those who EARN it and deserve it leagally in driver's seat. (how about allowing work permits for scooters only, it is transportation.)

Suggestions?

[longtermmemmory]

Most states have that. If you are arrested for driving drunk, the car is automatically impounded. Some states have the car being imobilized for a set amount of time after conviction so you loose the use of the car.

Gennerally the owner of the vehicle is responsible for what happens during the use of your vehicle.

[Old Professer]

MARLBORO-MA-Robert J. Sheridan, the Hudson man facing his tenth drunken-driving charge, hasn't had a valid driver's license since 1984, but he has kept on driving.

"1984 is the last time he had a valid license. Since then he has had OUI offenses in Massachusetts and New Hampshire," Erin Deveney, chief counsel for the state Registry of Motor Vehicles, said yesterday. "Despite not having a legal right to drive in Massachusetts, he was simply driving anyway."

Incredibly, Sheridan was arrested just six hours after being released from prison where he has spent the past 20 years after an outraged community and a zealous prosecutor convinced a judge and jury back in 2003 to "throw the book at him."

Sheridan, speaking from the Marlboro jail said, "They wouldn't of caught me if I could've spoke Spanish."

[Old Professer]

FLASH

Sudden rash of car thefts strike Marlboro, Ma.

More at 10.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

In Iowa, a serious conviction means loss of license and plates. You can get the license back after 30 or 60 days but plates are issued only after buying high risk insurance(and proving you have coverage, called an SR-22 filing with the state). Failure to pay premiums means a highway patrolman comes by your house with a screw driver and you don't drive.