Anyone who travels the surface streets or interstate routes in New Jersey is bound to run into a state patrolman or local municipal police officer at least once in their driving career. For the average person, those who take a drink socially from time to time, there is a good chance that he or she might be pulled over for a minor traffic infraction and then possibly be charged with driving while intoxicated.
Whether one lives or works in Bergen, Middlesex or Ocean County, a DWI arrest and conviction can spell the end of a promising business career, lost friendships or a ruined marital relationship. Such is the stigma of a drunk driving or prescription drug DUI guilty verdict. As New Jersey drunken driving defense attorneys, I and my staff of experienced DWI lawyers understand how a routine traffic stop can snowball into a full-blown DWI-DUI arrest.
And, we will add, the typical scenario repeats itself over and over again across the state on a regular basis. Some individuals get stopped just down the road from a bar or pub, at which they may or may not have enjoyed a glass wine, bottle of beer or shot of whiskey. Other drivers may be surprised by one of the many sobriety checkpoints that pop up from time to time in areas where drunk driving is reportedly quite common, according to police statistics.
The following news items represent a cross-section of alcohol-, prescription medication- and even illegal drug-related DUI reports that come in from every corner of the Graden State. It’s not surprising that a percentage of individuals arrested for DWI are found not guilty by a court of law. Others, sad to say, may believe that their “number was up” and chose to accept their sentence or pled to a reduced charge, yet still end up with a DWI on their record and steep fines and penalties to pay.
According to recent police blotter reports, police departments in Union County arrested a number of people on suspicion of drunken driving, as follows:
Cranford
Patrolmen from the local police department stopped a vehicle driven by a 19-year-old Cranford resident on a stretch of Dunham Ave. for allegedly failing to stay to the right-hand side of the roadway. After approaching the vehicle, officers found evidence of heroin and drug paraphernalia. The man was arrested and taken into custody after which he was charged with possession with intent to distribute, and controlled dangerous substance (CDS) in a motor vehicle.
A 32-year-old man from Scotch Plains, NJ, was pulled over by police on a defective equipment traffic stop — a burned out headlamp. During the routine police stop, officers reportedly saw what they believed was a partially burned hand-rolled marijuana joint in the suspect’s ashtray. Based on this evidence, the driver was arrested and charged with possession of a CDS — less than 50 grams of marijuana — in a motor vehicle, as well as possessing drug paraphernalia.
Another driver, a 53-year-old Essex County resident, pulled over by police officers along a stretch of Walnut Ave. for a burned out brake lamp. During the investigation, patrolmen suspected the man of driving under the influence of alcohol. In addition, police observed what they believed was a bag of marijuana and related paraphernalia inside the vehicle. The suspect was arrested and charged with DWI, possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana in a vehicle and possession of drug paraphernalia. The man was processed and released pending a court date at the Cranford Municipal Court.
A 35-year-old man from Middlesex, NJ, was stopped after police observed the driver apparently failed to stop at a red traffic signal. Pulling the suspect’s vehicle over on North Ave. the officers apparently observed telltale signs of intoxication from the Motorist. The man was arrested for driving while intoxicated, process and released pending a court date.
Police Blotter: Cranford Resident Arrested for Heroin Possession, Patch.com, June 9, 2011