Four more nabbed for driving without valid licenses - in just two days

Editor's note: The Rochester Voice today begins an occasional series on the rising number of arrests for those driving without a valid license, the consequences of such arrests and the possible impact on their insurance rates, and ours.

ROCHESTER - Less than a week after The Rochester Voice published a story detailing the ongoing problem of people driving around Rochester on suspended or revoked licenses, another four were arrested in just two days for similar offenses, including two who were nabbed after they crashed into each other.

That accident occurred on Tuesday around 6:40 p.m. in front of City Hall. The accident was minor with no personal injury, but Andrew Dodier of Gonic and Adam Murphy, listed as a transient from Raymond, were both arrested: Murphy for driving after revocation/suspension and Didier on an electronic bench warrant on a second such offense.

Joseph Fowler (Rochester Police photo)

Then on Wednesday 49-year-old Joseph Fowler, of River Street, Rochester, was arrested on South Main Street around 11:10 a.m. for driving after being certified as habitual offender, a Class B felony that could land him up to seven years in state prison.

Three hours later a local transient, Alesha Neault, 34 was picked up on a probation violation out of Rockingham County. She also had an EBW for operating without a valid license as well as an EBW for credit card fraud.

Rochester Police Capt. Todd Pinkham said last month that the department usually averages around 30 such arrests every month and that about half say they knew they were breaking the law.

A habitual offender designation usually results in a license revocation of 1-4 years, according to statute, after which applicants seeking to be reinstated must reapply with the DMV.

The statute is meant to reduce the number of dangerous drivers by removing them from the road, according to DMV officials.

Michael Todd of the DMV said through 2019 there were almost 1,400 habitual offender hearings, and while he was unable to determine how many habitual offenders there were in the state - or in Strafford County or Rochester, Pinkham said the number of folks driving around without a valid license is significant