Police: Woman Stiffs Cab Driver, Charged With DWI

A Hopewell Junction woman was arrested on Aug. 26 after she failed to pay a cab driver who dropped her off at the Katonah train station.

But the charges weren't related to the payment dispute.

Officers responded to a call from the taxi company employee, who complained that Renee Giardina, 22, of Hopewell Junction, had not paid him the fare he was owed. The driver said he was following Giardina, who left the train station in her Dodge Caliber and was headed to a residence on Garlen Road in Katonah.

Bedford police responded to the home on Garlen Road, where Giardina exited her car. Police said they noticed an odor of alcohol on Giardina's breath and administered field sobriety tests, which she failed.

Giardina was taken to police headquarters for processing. She took a chemical breath test which revealed a .12 BAC. She was charged with DWI over .08 BAC. Giardina agreed to make the taxi payment the following day and the cab company did not press charges.