New Jersey DWI Lawyer Blog
Each week there are always more motorists who become acquainted with local and state police officers in ways they likely never expected. As drunk driving trial attorneys, the experienced attorneys at the law offices of Jonathan F. Marshall understand how unexpected and traumatizing being arrested for intoxicated driving can be to many people. For this reason alone, not to mention the legal aspects of many DWI-DUI cases, the accused may want to discuss their situation with a qualified legal professional.
Since my staff has been involved in more courtroom hearings in a week than the average person might experience in their entire lifetime, it’s never a bad idea to take the time to consult with a specialist in the area of drunk driving law. Surprisingly, many DWI and drug DUI arrests start out in a relatively innocent manner; by a driver failing to signal a lane change or having a lapsed vehicle registration. But by the end of the traffic stop, many drivers may find that themselves sitting at police headquarters and blowing into a breathalyzer machine, such as the Alcotest device.
For a look at some of the more typical scenarios (and some not so typical), the following items from the Ocean County police blotter might be illuminating.
Barnegat Police Arrest 26-Year-Old after DWI-related Crash
News reports indicated that a 26-year-old woman from Manahawkin, NJ, was arrested and charged with drunk driving on a Sunday evening after the vehicle she was driving left the roadway and crashed into two parked cars on Beverly Drive. Police reports stated that the suspect’s vehicle drove through three separate residential yards before striking the two stationary just before 10:30pm in the evening.
According to news reports, the woman was believed by the police officers arriving on the scene to be intoxicated by alcohol. The driver was arrested and her vehicle was impounded per the state law known as “John’s Law.” Following a trip to the police department, the woman was formally charged with DWI and reckless driving, among others.
Single-Vehicle Accident Leads to Drunk Driving Arrest
On a Thursday evening a local motorist was taken into custody by Barnegat patrolmen following a one-car collision along a stretch of Blueclaw Dr. The driver, a 69-year-old woman, was reportedly discovered by officers lying in a friend’s driveway after she allegedly fell out of vehicle following some kind of an impact. The suspect was taken to Southern Ocean Medical Center for treatment, after which she was charged with drunk and reckless driving.
Suspicious Vehicle Call Ends with a DWI Charge for Sleeping Motorist
Just after midnight on a Saturday, police were called to the scene of a suspicious motor vehicle that was reportedly parked on the shoulder of Bowline Street. The officers arriving on the scene found a man allegedly asleep in the front seat with the vehicle’s engine still running and the headlamps turned on. According to news articles, the 47-year-old occupant of the vehicle was “slumped over the steering wheel” when police approached the car.
The man was placed under arrest by officers and his vehicle was impounded in accordance with John’s Law. Later at police headquarters, the driver was reportedly charged with reckless driving and DWI. The man was subsequently released pending a court date.
BARNEGAT POLICE REPORT: Woman Charged with DWI After Car Strikes Two Parked Cars, Patch.com, March 26, 2013