Joseph James Bennett, 63, of Northampton, who Lehigh Township police say has had his driver’s license suspended or revoked for years due to numerous similar offenses, was arrested by township police after he was stopped while driving a vehicle at 12:32 p.m. Nov. 27 on Lehigh Drive, near the area of the entrance to Becky’s Drive-In in the township.

Police charged the Carbon County developer and businessman in the office of Magisterial District Judge Robert A. Hawke in Walnutport with driving while his license is suspended or revoked due to a DUI offense; speeding; driver required to be licensed; and driving while his license is suspended or revoked.

Police said they were conducting a speed timing detail on Lehigh Drive at the time when Bennett, driving a blue 2019 Infiniti QX56, was timed at traveling 61 mph in the 40 mph zone, resulting in an officer initiating a traffic stop as Bennett drove the vehicle into the parking lot of a Key Bank. Police said Bennett provided the officer a probationary driver’s license that had expired on Oct. 17 of this year, as well as a probationary license authorization letter dated Sept. 16, 2016, telling the cop he renewed the license.

Police said they reviewed Bennett’s record with the state Department of Transportation and learned he refused a chemical test on Aug. 7, 1992, resulting in him losing his license as a condition of acceptance of the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance. Police said Bennett’s record shows he had five other violations of driving while license is suspended or revoked, those having taken place on Aug. 29, 1997; March 11, 1999; March 22, 2001; March 19, 2001; and Nov. 10, 2004.

Regarding the driver required to be licensed charge, police said they learned Bennett’s expired on March 31, 1984.

With regard to the charge of driving while his operating privilege is suspended or revoked, police said Bennett is subject to “enhanced penalty” due to subsequent convictions, saying the latest charges constitute his 23rd violation of this section of the Motor Vehicle Code. Police said at different times between Jan. 16, 1980, and March 13, 2001, Bennett was charged with 22 other offenses of driving with a suspended license.