Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
An East Hampton man was arrested on two DWI counts and a drug possession charge over Memorial Day Weekend 2026 after police pulled him over on Springs Fireplace Road — and then found nearly a gram of cocaine in his wallet an hour later at the station, according to East Hampton Daily Voice.
Leonel Martinez Biznay, of East Hampton, was behind the wheel of a 2015 Ram pickup truck traveling northbound on Springs Fireplace Road when an officer observed his vehicle repeatedly failing to maintain its lane, according to police. Specifically, the truck was crossing the white fog line on the right side of the road on multiple occasions, a pattern that gave officers sufficient probable cause to initiate a traffic stop. The incident occurred during the busy Memorial Day Weekend, a period historically marked by elevated traffic volume and an increased law enforcement presence across the East End of Long Island.
When officers made contact with Martinez Biznay, the signs of intoxication were immediately apparent, East Hampton Daily Voice reported. His breath smelled strongly of alcohol, his eyes were described as bloodshot and glassy, and his speech was slurred. Officers further observed that he was unsteady on his feet as the stop progressed. Any one of these physical indicators is commonly used by law enforcement to establish reasonable grounds for a DWI investigation; Martinez Biznay exhibited all of them simultaneously.
Complicating matters further, police also learned during the stop that Martinez Biznay’s vehicle registration had been suspended, adding an additional layer of legal exposure to what had begun as a lane-departure observation. The discovery of a suspended registration during a DWI stop is not uncommon on Long Island, but it typically results in the vehicle being taken out of service at the scene in addition to the operator being detained.
Approximately one hour after the initial traffic stop, while officers were processing Martinez Biznay at East Hampton police headquarters, investigators found nearly one gram of cocaine inside a small plastic bag concealed within his wallet, according to police. The discovery transformed what had been a straightforward — if serious — DWI arrest into a multi-charge case. Routine booking procedures, which include a thorough search of a suspect’s personal belongings, led directly to the find. The cocaine was recovered and documented as evidence.
As a result of the traffic stop and the subsequent station-house discovery, Martinez Biznay was charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance in addition to two separate counts of DWI, according to police records reported by East Hampton Daily Voice. The dual DWI charges are consistent with New York State practice, which typically pursues both a per se charge — based on a blood alcohol reading — and a common-law DWI charge based on observed impairment.
Location & Road Context
Springs Fireplace Road is a primary north-south corridor in East Hampton, connecting the Springs community to the broader village road network. The road passes through a mix of residential neighborhoods and wooded stretches, and it sees significantly elevated traffic volume during summer weekends and holidays as visitors travel to and from the Hamptons. The roadway’s relatively narrow lanes and limited lighting in certain stretches make lane-departure incidents particularly dangerous, especially at night or during periods of impaired driving.
The East End of Long Island has seen a troubling pattern of serious DWI-related incidents in recent months. A Moriches teen was sentenced to four to twelve years for a DWI crash that killed an East Hampton teenager, and separately, an East Hampton man was convicted of DWI for the second time in three years, earning him felony status. A serious multi-vehicle crash also occurred just weeks earlier near Napeague, underscoring the ongoing road safety challenges along the South Fork’s main arteries.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
Martinez Biznay faces three charges in total: two counts of DWI under New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law and one count of fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance under New York Penal Law, according to police records. Fifth-degree drug possession — which covers possession of a controlled substance — is a Class D felony in New York State when it involves cocaine, meaning Martinez Biznay could face significant prison exposure if convicted on that charge alone, entirely separate from the DWI counts. No arraignment details, bail conditions, or attorney information were immediately available in initial reports.
The suspended vehicle registration, while likely a separate administrative matter, could also factor into the broader legal proceedings. Police documented the suspension at the time of the stop, and it is expected to appear as an additional violation in the case file.
Broader Impact
This arrest arrives at a moment when East Hampton and the broader East End are grappling with repeat and compounding DWI enforcement. New York State’s penalties for a DWI conviction — even a first offense — include license revocation, fines up to $1,000, and potential jail time; a simultaneous felony drug charge elevates that exposure dramatically. The combination of impaired driving and controlled substance possession in a single arrest reflects a pattern that local law enforcement has increasingly flagged as a enforcement priority during high-traffic holiday weekends on the South Fork.