Regardless of which county one drives in — Passaic, Middlesex, Union or Mercer — a drunk driving arrest is only an errant lane change away, or for that matter a burned-out headlamp or rolling stop. The fact of the matter is, here in the Garden State, driving with even a couple drinks under one’s belt can quickly become a trip to police headquarters for a breathalyzer test and possible booking on charges of driving while intoxicated.
Naturally, drunken driving is one of the many traffic offenses out there, but impaired driving due to prescription medications or illicit drugs (drug DUI) are other ways in which a driver can find him or herself in trouble with the law. As New Jersey DWI defense lawyers, I and my colleagues have represented numerous motorists charged with driving under the influence of beer, wine or hard liquor.
As experienced drunken driving defense attorneys, my firm handles numerous drunken driving and drug DUI cases, as well as breath test refusal and underage drinking offenses. No matter where one lives or works in New Jersey, being arrested for DWI or DUI can be a serious matter and not to be taken lightly. The following police blotter items illustrate some of the typical drunk driving-related and other police arrests that occur on a regular basis throughout the state.
Drug-related Charges following Traffic Stop
Based on police reports, a patrolman stopped a passenger car after observing the vehicle’s brake lights were not working. According to the news article, the incident took place around 9:30pm; following the traffic stop, the officer in charge made a brief investigation and apparently identified within the vehicle suspected cocaine and related drug paraphernalia on the person of the two occupants.
New reports indicate that the 54-year-old female driver, from Cranford, and the 23-year-old male passenger, a Garwood resident, were both arrested and charged with a variety of drug-related offenses. In addition to being processed for an outstanding warrant out of Elizabeth, NJ, the driver female was charged with cocaine possession, as well as possession of drug paraphernalia. The man was likewise charged with similar possession charges. They were both released pending a court appearance in Union County Superior Court.
DWI and Underage Drinking
An local police officer making a routine traffic stop found the driver of the vehicle to be allegedly impaired by alcohol, according to reports. Just after midnight, police stopped an 18-year-old Cranford, NJ, man who was behind the wheel of a 1996 Honda; the officer in charge stated that he had observed the vehicle exceeding the posted speed limit and effected the traffic stop. During the stop, the patrolman apparently detected evidence of alcohol consumption. The driver was charged with speeding and failure to obey a traffic control signal, as well as other offenses. The man was processed and then released pending his appearance date in the local municipal court.
A couple hours after this precious traffic stop, police responded to a residential burglar alarm that had sounded a little before 3am. According to new reports, police had also received calls of an “unruly juvenile” in the area. Based on reports, officers found a 17-year-old local man along a stretch of Gallows Hill Rd. The individual was charged with criminal mischief, having been arrested for damaging three or more houses with thrown rocks. Police reports indicate that the young man was also intoxicated. He was later released to one of his parents pending and appearance in juvenile court.
Possible Marijuana Possession in a Vehicle
During a late night patrol, officers stopped a vehicle along a stretch Centennial Ave. near the Garden State Pkwy entrance ramp (136); the stop was reportedly made for a seatbelt violation, according to the news article. After a short investigation by the patrolman, the officer reportedly located a bag of alleged marijuana, as well as some related drug paraphernalia inside the car. The 25-year-old driver, a resident of South River, NJ, was arrested and processed at police headquarters, He was later released pending an appearance date at the local municipal court.
Police Blotter: Traffic Stops Lead To Arrests For Drugs, DWI; Patch.com, November 29, 2011