Carriage Horse Driver Pleads Guilty to DWI and Suspended for 30 Days

March 9, 2010

NEW YORK—Saverio Colarusso, a carriage driver from the West 38th street stable, appeared at the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) court in response to summonses issued by the Humane Law Enforcement (HLE) agents of the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) and pled guilty to operating a horse-drawn carriage while under the influence.

On March 3, Colarusso received a $175 fine and a 30 day suspension of his carriage driver's license.

Back in January, Colarusso was found to be drinking beer and a number of empty bottles were discovered on his carriage by HLE agents during a routine inspection of carriage horses at Central Park.  He was issued a DCA summons for operating a carriage while "under the influence of intoxicating liquors" section 2-212 (q) 6 of the Rules of the City of New York.

The ASPCA's Humane Law Enforcement Department currently enforces state and local animal protection laws including New York State animal cruelty law and carriage horse protection laws found in the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and New York City Department of Consumer Affairs code and regulations.