Suffolk police stop driver whose license expired 32 years ago, cops say

A West Babylon driver failed to signal when he changed lanes Friday, Suffolk police said, so officers pulled him over and discovered his license had expired 32 years ago.

A check on the driving record of Ralph R. Knowles, 56, also showed his license had been suspended 46 times, police said. It had expired in June 1986, authorities said, and his driving privilege was revoked the next year.

Police said Knowles did not turn on the signal of a Dodge Caravan as he drove on Straight Path in Wyandanch, near Little East Neck Road, at about 4:30 p.m.

After stopping him for the traffic violation, police said, First Precinct officers learned that Knowles did not own the Dodge and that the vehicle’s owner also had a suspended driver’s license. Police did not say how the driver knew the Dodge owner.

Knowles was arrested on charges of first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a felony.

Knowles, who was released and will be arraigned at a later date, could not be reached Friday night.