Commonwealth v. Perachio

Did a police officer’s observations of the defendant’s intoxication, made seventy-two minutes before the officer encountered the defendant while he was operating a motor vehicle, provide the officer sufficient reasonable suspicion to request that the defendant perform field sobriety tests? In the circumstances of this case, yes.

The defendant, Jeffrey A. Perachio, was charged with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, G. L. c. 90, § 24, and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, G. L. *592c. 90, § 10. His motion to suppress evidence obtained in the course of the stop of…