Niskayuna town official pleads guilty to infractions in Clifton Park; Case began as DWI

Niskayuna Town Board member John Della Ratta pleaded guilty to two infractions on Jan. 20 after he was originally charged with driving while intoxicated and three other traffic infractions when he was stopped Sept. 27 on Route 146 by Saratoga County sheriff’s deputies.

Della Ratta was convicted of not adhering to the preliminary breath screening, an infraction, said his attorney Patrick Campion of the law firm Gerstenzang, Sills, Cohn & Gerstenzang in Albany.

“He did consent to a chemical test,” Campion said.

That test, which was administered just over an hour after Della Ratta was stopped, showed he had a blood alcohol content of 0.06%.

“The chemical test established under the law that John was not intoxicated,” Campion said.

Campion said Della Ratta also had to complete an alcohol assessment.

“The results of the assessment (were) treatment was not recommended,” he said.

Campion said the assessments are typical in cases like this.

Della Ratta was also convicted of moving from a lane unsafely, which resulted in three points on his license.

Campion said they are happy with the fairness of the District Attorney’s Office in the matter.

Categories: Clifton Park and Halfmoon, News, Schenectady County