New Rochelle Building Inspector Pleads Guilty to DWI; John Caldararo Arrested with Blood Alcohol Level Five Times Legal Limit

Written By: Robert Cox

JohnCaldararox150.pngJohn A Caldararo, 50, a Senior Buildings Inspector for the City of New Rochelle plead guilty Tuesday to DWI. Caldararo is required to pay fines, fees and surcharges totaling $895 and undertake court-mandated treatment for convicted drinking drivers. As part his sentence, Caldararo’s drivers license was revoked.

UPDATE: John Caldararo is also the President of the New Rochelle City Civil Service Employees Association President

Caldararo was arrested on the Southern State Parkway in Suffolk County on Saturday July 24, 2010 at 7:40 PM. He was charged with two misdemeanor counts — Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Blood Alcohol Level Above .08 Of 1%, Operating a Motor Vehicle while Intoxicated and an infraction — equipment violation for not having required safety glass on the vehicle.

Court records indicate that Caldararo had a blood alcohol content of 0.40 — five times the legal limit of 0.08 to be considered “intoxicated” in New York State.

Caldararo appeared in Suffolk County District Court on August 6th, requested a continuance which was granted and released on his recognizance. Caldararo returned to court on August 10th at which time he plead guilty to the top charge, Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Blood Alcohol Level Above .08 Of 1%, 1st offense.

Caldararo was sentenced to a fine of $500, Conditional Discharge of 1 Year, a CVA Fee of $25, Drinking Driver Referral, License Revoked (can reapply in six months), and an unspecified surcharge of $370

He is due back in court on October 14, 2010 to show he paid his fines, fees and surcharges.

Caldararo, who worked for the building department for many years as an inspector was recently given a promotion and raise that was conditional on his passing a required civil service exam, sources say. Caldararo failed the test and, as a result, lost the position. In order for him to perform his current duties as building inspector — responding to complaints and violations throughout New Rochelle — the City has assigned another municipal employee as his driver.

SEE ALSO: Just How Drunk Was New Rochelle City Civil Service Employees Association President John Caldararo on July 24th?

UPDATE: Journal News now working on a story.

16 thoughts on “New Rochelle Building Inspector Pleads Guilty to DWI; John Caldararo Arrested with Blood Alcohol Level Five Times Legal Limit”

  1. Before you cast a shadow,
    Before you cast a shadow, remember what an outstanding member of our community and asset to our city John is. Keep in mind the next time you are leaving a barbeque, that you also fall into this category w/having just a glass or two of wine, pending the size.

    1. Don’t assume everyone who
      Don’t assume everyone who goes to a barbeque drinks . Also there are responsible people in this world who have a party with out alcohol. I guess you think every barbeque has to have alochol.

      1. You missed my point. I did
        You missed my point. I did not condone that he was under the influence, rather that people may not realize the effects of there consumption based on the size of the glass that they are drinking from.
        Of course I agree that no-one should operate a vehicle if consuming.

    2. Remember what?
      In what way is John Caldarao an outstanding member of our community and an asset?

      Based on his behavior he appears to a tremendous liability for the City because, from all I have heard over the past week, the City knew about his drinking and continued to give him a City-owned vehicle.

      If he kills someone while driving drunk on the job who pays?

  2. let it be a reminder? of
    let it be a reminder? of what? that there’s idiots, yes he’s an idiot, driving around with no self-control. suppose he drove the wrong way and killed your wife and kids, what then?
    he will be taken care of and coddled by management, he’s “one of the boys”.

  3. Let He Who is Without Sin…
    cast the first stone. Thankfully no one got hurt except John.

  4. John is a very good person
    Anyone that knows John knows he’s a great guy. This unfortunate event is not typical behavior. Thankfully no one was injured and it’s a big reminder for us all. I would hope that we allow John to handle this personal matter in a personal manner.

    1. What is not typical?
      Jerry,

      If you mean that he was caught operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, you are correct as the charge was DWI-1st Offense.

      If you mean that he is not a big drinker or that he has bee a drinking driver, then you are apparently the last to know.

      Being arrested is not a private matter.

      The risk he posed to the public is not a private matter.

      His job for the city, driving around New Rochelle in a City-owned vehicle is not a private matter.

      The cost to taxpayers of paying a municipal employee to drive him around each workday because his license has been revoked is not a private matter.

      A “great guy” does not consume so much alcohol that he ought to be in a coma or dead and then get in his car and drive — at highway speeds no less.

      Whether he wants to deal with his alcohol problem is his business right up until he gets behind the wheel and drives drunk at which point it is everybody’s business.

  5. he will end up keeping his
    he will end up keeping his job, it happened off of city time. a city employee failed a breath test while he was driving a city vehicle and he is going to keep his job……

      1. Shameful
        I have to say, your behavior is despicable.

        I only take a cab in Manhattan.

        Leave the man alone. We dont come to your job and tell you what to do. Such a rag, you are.

        Roberta the Postperson

      2. leave the man alone? what if
        leave the man alone? what if he had killed someone? what if he killed someone in your family? you would be singing a very diferent tune.

        im not at all saying he is a bad guy, but he did a very bad thing. good thing nobody got hurt…

      3. The law will take care of
        The law will take care of him. It’s none of your business.

        Even if he hurt someone it would still be the law’s handling and not yours. Go have a BBQ and mind your own business.

        Roberta the Postperson

      4. Why should we have to pay
        Why should we have to pay another employee to drive him to do his job.
        His Lic. was revoked not suspended thats pretty harsh.

  6. csea
    this guy is csea head,i take it jeff coleman is not his boss, i wonder if a dpw guy could fail a breath test and still work.

    1. Of course he could work, the
      Of course he could work, the city would just assign another driver to help him out. He could operate the controls to raise and lower the plow or the controls to crush the garbage trucks, but it would not be efficent if he was on one of the garbage trucks that would not if he was on one of the trucks that would not fit under the
      the bridges on Pinebrook Blvd.

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