Long Island Man Arrested For 41st Time For Driving On Suspended License

Jason Brown may be only 36 but he has just racked up his 41st driving offense in operating a vehicle on a suspended license. That’s right, 41 times. This time he was pulled over after police said that he was driving erratically and they found marijuana in the car as well as heroin and cocaine on his person.

Brown from Long Island allegedly gave a false name at first but was soon in the books with what must be close to a record for such violations. He now faces charges of aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, criminal impersonation, unlawful possession of marijuana and criminal possession of a controlled substance. The concept of an “aggravated” unlicensed operation is a bit new to me but I suppose if there is such a thing it would occur sometime before a 41st arrest.

The case illustrates the difficulty in dealing with recidivists of such minor offenses. Society does not want to jail such individuals long-term for minor violations but there is clearly no deterrent for people like Brown in the existing punishment. (I am also curious when a license stops being “suspended” and someone like Brown simply has no license).