Throughout the Garden State, the constant stream of news reports regarding drunk driving, specifically those found online and in the newspaper, illustrate the ongoing fight that law enforcement and our court system continue to have with the very real issue of intoxicated driving. As dedicated criminal and civil defense attorneys, my legal staff handles numerous DWI and drug DUI cases every week in counties such as Bergen, Monmouth, Middlesex and Atlantic, to name just a few.
As New Jersey DWI defense lawyers, we see clients who have been charged with driving while intoxicated by alcohol or drugs on city streets, as well as the parkway, interstate and local highways. For those who have ever wondered if theirs was the only DWI arrest to merit a courtroom fight, we would have to say, No. There are many hundreds, likely thousands, of otherwise law-abiding people who find themselves on a yearly basis facing serious charges and potentially costly penalties for offense that they do not believe they committed.
Granted, quite a few defendants in DWI and drug DUI cases will not understand the extent to which our DWI laws can affect the outcome of their drunk driving case, which is why it is important to seek the assistance of a qualified defense lawyer who has extensive experience in representing motorists accused of DWI or drug DUI offenses. This would include summonses for driving under the influence of alcohol, doctor-prescribed medications, and even the use or possession of illicit drugs, such as marijuana, methamphetamine or cocaine.
One important thing to remember is the fact that as a driver accused of impaired operation of a motor vehicle, you are indeed not alone in your particular troubles. As we have alluded above, the news is filled, understand that you are not alone. My colleagues and I firmly believe that every accused individual has a right to their day in court. Over the years, we have represented hundreds of individuals who believed that they were innocent of the charges lodged against them. As defense attorneys, our job is to fight for defendants’ rights under the law.
The following collection of police blotter events can illustrate the various types of alcohol- and drug-related arrests that can take place all across the state week in and week out. Once a traffic stop has been initiated, and depending on the circumstances, the stage may be set for a drunk driving or drug-related DUI arrest. Here are just a few of the many situations that can occur:
Denville Twp. Police Charge Two Local Drivers in Separate DWI Arrests
According to police reports, township officers took two motorists into custody in mid-October for separate drunken driving offenses approximately one hour apart from each other. In the first case, a 46-year-old local woman was arrested following a reported traffic accident along a portion of West Shore Rd. in Morris County. The crash occurred around 11pm on Monday evening after the suspect’s vehicle allegedly struck a parked car.
Based on news articles, in addition to reckless driving, the woman was charged with DWI a short time after police arrived on the scene. Just moments after this first arrest, a 51-year-old Denville man was stopped by police for apparently running a traffic control signal. Based on news reports, the motorist was also found to be intoxicated. Officers arrested the driver and transported him to police headquarters where he was processed and later released. The charges included reckless driving, failing to stop, and intoxicated operation of a motor vehicle.
Routine Traffic Stop in Long Hill, NJ, Results in DWI for Warren County Motorist In early October, a Washington Twp. woman was stopped by police after officers observed a vehicle whose driver apparently had a hard time maintaining her lane. Based on police reports, the stop occurred a little after midnight when the officers saw the vehicle cross over the center line at least once. During the traffic stop, the 28-year-old driver was suspected of being intoxicated and was requested by police to perform some standardized field sobriety tests, which she allegedly failed.
The woman was arrested in the early morning hours and taken to police headquarters for processing. According to the news report, the driver was charged with multiple offenses, including DWI, failure to maintain her lane, careless operation of a motor vehicle and reckless driving, as well as failing to have either her vehicle registration and/or insurance certificate.
Randolph Cops Arrest Hit-and-Run Driver for Drunk Driving Local police responded to a report of a hit-and-run driver following a roadway accident near the intersection of Park Avenue and Pleasant Hill Rd. The victim had been able to follow the driver of the other vehicle, who allegedly fled the scene before police could arrive. Having been advised of the latest whereabouts of the hit-and-run driver, officers were found the victim of the crash and the other driver stopped by the roadside some distance from the site of the original crash.
While interviewing the suspected hit-and-run driver, the officer in charge reportedly detected the odor of alcohol coming from the suspect’s vehicle. After some investigation, the 51-year-old out-of-state driver was arrested for DWI, as well as a number of other motor vehicle violations.
Two Denville residents arrested for DWI, NewJerseyHills.com, October 23, 2014
Police Blotter: Hit and run crash in Randolph; DailyRecord.com, October 9, 2014