DWI Stops

August 1, 2012

Monmouth County Drunken Drivng Arrests: Aberdeen Twp. Police Charge Multiple Drivers with DWI

As any driver in the Garden State likely knows, the state police and local law enforcement officers are on a constant vigil, looking out for impaired motorists. And, while the law says a patrolman cannot pull a vehicle over simply on a hunch that the driver may be intoxicated by beer, wine, doctor-prescribed meds or even marijuana or cocaine, an officer can stop a motorist if he or she violates any one of a number of traffic laws. In the end, if a police officer sees a car being driving in an erratic manner and can justify the traffic stop with a moving violation, a drunken driving arrest may not be far away.

As mentioned previously, intoxicated or impaired driving can range from operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, prescription medication or illicit drugs also known as controlled dangerous substances (CDS, for short). Although alcohol and prescription medications are not strictly illegal to consume or ingest, the law limits their use when operating a car, truck or other motor vehicle. In many cases, any impairment due to these substances while driving is grounds for arrest. Several steps later and one could find themselves on the receiving end of a DWI or drug DUI conviction.

As New Jersey drunk driving defense attorneys, I and my colleagues know that in a state as densely packed as ours that incidences of drunken driving, not to mention other traffic offenses, will most probably be higher than other locations. From this, it’s not surprising that Jersey drivers get more than their fair share of DWI arrests, summonses and convictions. This includes being charged with multiple DWI offenses and even something as seemingly minor (yet fully chargeable) as breath-test refusal.
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July 28, 2012

Why Complicate a DWI Charge? Running from the Police is Never a Wise Choice

by Jonathan F. Marshall

For the umpteenth time — and if we’ve said it once, we’ve certainly said it a hundred times before: once a motorist is being pulled over or even in the process of being stopped for a traffic offense, any thought of fleeing the arresting officer or otherwise leaving the scene is a foolhardy and potentially damaging gesture. Radios have been around for more than one hundred years and no car yet made can outrun a police transceiver. Of course, we say this somewhat in jest, but the fact remains that running from the police can only serve to compound one’s troubles later at the inevitable court hearing.

As New Jersey DWI and drug DUI defense attorneys, I and my expert staff of criminal and civil defense lawyers understand the laws of this state and the consequences of flouting those laws. While it’s never a good situation to be charged with driving under the influence of beer or wine, prescription meds or even weed, trying to elude a police officer as a result of a routine traffic stop could most certainly be more trouble than it’s worth.

What prompts us to pass along this information is a news article about a Sussex County motorist who apparently felt it was necessary to flee from Sparta Township police during an early morning police patrol along a stretch of Woodport Rd. According to the news report, the officer in charge observed a vehicle traveling in excess of the local speed limit; the suspect’s Acura was reportedly clocked on radar doing more than 70mph in a 40 zone. The patrolman gave chase, but the driver apparently did not yield and kept driving away.
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July 26, 2012

Union and Bergen County Police Blotters: DWI, DUI Arrests and Drunk Driving-related Accidents

by Jonathan F. Marshall

Here in the Garden State, we have the most densely populated areas in the entire country. As such, it can be expected that the frequency of criminal and civil offenses will be that much more concentrated. Whether one believes that drunken driving continues to be a problem in counties such as Ocean, Sussex, Bergen and Hudson, local and state law enforcement authorities are on a more or less constant alert to motorists who are possibly operating a motor vehicle while under the influence.

Impaired driving can encompass a range of activities, from driving while intoxicated by alcohol (such as beer, wine or hard liquor), operating a car or truck while impaired by a doctor-prescribed medication or pain killer, such as valium or oxycontin, or even an illicit drug like cocaine or marijuana. While alcohol and prescription medications are not illegal per se, their effect on a driver’s ability to control his or her vehicle can result in a chargeable offense. But, unlike these former two, illegal drugs (also known as controlled dangerous substances [CDS]) bring with them not only the potential for a traffic-related offense, but also the possibility of criminal charges as well.

The following news items are just a brief example of the types of arrest that take place every day in this state. As New Jersey DWI defense lawyers, my firm is committed to representing those individuals who believe themselves to have been falsely accused of drunk driving or drug DUI.
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July 23, 2012

Sussex County Police Make Arrests for Drunken Driving as well as Marijuana Possession

by Jonathan F. Marshall

Police blotters all around the Garden State paint a picture of the typical arrests that take place on a daily basis across this state. Whether in Passaic, Bergen, Atlantic or Ocean County, drunken driving charges are quite often on the menu for many motorists up and down the interstates and local roadways. For anyone who has ever wondered if they were the only one to receive a summons for driving under the influence of alcohol, prescription drugs or even illicit drugs like marijuana or cocaine, understand that you are not alone.

As New Jersey DWI defense lawyers, I and my legal staff firmly believe that every person accused of DWI or drug DUI has a right to have their day in court. We have represented numerous individuals who adamantly believed that they were innocent of the charges. As defense attorneys, our job is to fight for our clients in a court of law. While the circumstances may vary, the charges are usually quite similar. Our defense strategy, of course, depends on the particular details of the case and whether the accused has had any previous drunken driving convictions.

The following is a collection of impaired driving arrests from several municipalities in Sussex County not long ago. Those arrested and charged may or may not end up being convicted, but the stage has been set for each of them once the police have reasonable suspicion that the driver may have been operating his or her vehicle while intoxicated by beer, wine or doctor-prescribed medicine.
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July 18, 2012

Police Arrest New Jersey Driver for 4th DUI/DWI Arrest in the Span of One Month

by Jonathan F. Marshall

Some people apparently do not realize when enough is enough. As New Jersey DWI defense attorneys, I and my staff of experienced drunken driving lawyers are committed to representing individuals who have been accused of driving while intoxicated, either by alcohol or prescription drugs. But even though we believe that every person deserves their day in court, we certainly do not espouse drinking and driving, or even suggest that repeat offending is the way to go through life.

Not only is driving under the influence against the law, but it is dangerous when a driver is impaired beyond the ability to safely operate a motor vehicle. The same can be said for doctor-prescribed medications as well; and even illicit substances, such as cocaine and marijuana. While some may disagree with the laws of this state, the fact is that law enforcement officers are tasked with rooting out those who they believe have broken the law and to bring those individuals to justice. For ourselves, we bring the fight to a court of law when a client believes he or she was unjustly accused of DWI or drug DUI.

There are those people who sometimes push the limits of the court’s patience. Being arrested multiple times for drunk driving is a way of one’s defense slightly more difficult. As attorneys representing defendants who have been charged with DWI or DUI, we know that putting the best face on a situation can be difficult once a track record of offenses has been established. For this reason along we suggest prudence to anyone who has already been convicted of drunken driving one or more times. But then again, most individuals know the stakes are high.
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July 7, 2012

Arrested for Drug DUI or Marijuana Possession in a Motor Vehicle? Consider Your Options

by Jonathan F. Marshall

With more than 40 years of collective litigation experience defending clients for such offenses as marijuana possession, driving while impaired by a controlled dangerous substance (CDS), operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, breath test refusal and drug DUI, my firm has the skills and experience to work in our clients’ best interests. Whether one lives in Bergen, Passaic, Ocean or Atlantic County, the law treats motorists the same when it comes to DWI/DUI offenses.

As a former Garden State municipal prosecutor, I myself have handled hundreds of similar cases for the state; for this reason alone, I and my legal staff understand the strategies used by state and local prosecutor’s officers to obtain convictions for drunken driving and drug DUI, among others. The attorney’s in my office routinely address courts throughout the state, representing clients who have been accused of possession, use and other cannabis-related offenses. No matter if a person is charged with marijuana possession, intent to distribute weed, or other marijuana associated offenses, we believe that everyone has the right to face their accusers and defend themselves in a court of law.

It has become abundantly clear over the years that marijuana is one of the most frequently used drugs out there. As a controlled dangerous substance (CDS), weed, Mary Jane, or whatever one chooses to call it, is obviously the most common drug we as drug DUI lawyers have encountered during our careers. With marijuana arrests almost as commonplace as those for DWI, it should not come as a surprise to learn that more than $30 billion of this illicit drug is grown in the U.S. annually.
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July 5, 2012

DWI Police Blotter: Union County Patrolmen Arrest Drivers for DWI and Marijuana Possession

by Jonathan F. Marshall

Whatever the situation; be it a routine traffic stop that results in a DWI arrest, a drunken driving summons received at a sobriety checkpoint, or a breath test refusal charge following a drunk driving stop in the city, there is no reason whatsoever for not consulting a qualified New Jersey DWI defense attorney. The fact is, the state has law enforcement to arrest motorists and prosecutors to prove guilt. At the very least, drivers who are accused of driving under the influence of alcohol or prescription drugs should take advantage of the experience of a DWI lawyer who knows the law.

Here in the Garden State, I and my staff of knowledgeable attorneys understand how a conviction for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated can affect a person’s life going forward. Not only are there stiff monetary penalties, but also jail time for some offenders, as well as other consequences such as loss of driving privileges. The following items pulled from local news briefs show the many and varied situations that can lead to a DWI arrest.

Cranford Police Arrests
Officers pulled a Cadillac over along a stretch of South Ave. near Meeker following an illegal passing maneuver. During the roadside traffic stop, patrolmen apparently found evidence of weed on the driver’s person. The 21-year-old Orange County resident was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana (less than 50g) as well as possession CDS (controlled dangerous substance) paraphernalia and improper passing. The suspect was subsequently released pending an appearance in municipal court.
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June 29, 2012

Monmouth County DWI Arrests, Underage Alcohol Possession Summonses and CDS Charges

by Jonathan F. Marshall

As drunken driving defense attorneys, we’re not surprised at the number of DWI and drug DUI arrests that occur every week across the Garden State. In fact, as the state with arguably the highest population density in the nation, it would be difficult to imagine few if any traffic stops that resulted in a summons for driving while intoxicated.

As New Jersey DWI defense lawyers, I and my team of qualified drunk driving attorneys know the state’s DWI/DUI laws, as well as the potential for monetary penalties and even social stigma following a drunk driving conviction. As an example of the kinds of arrests that we tend to see week in and week out, the following collection of police reports is just a taste of the range of arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol, prescription drugs and even illegal substances, such as marijuana and cocaine.

Car Crash in Little Silver Nets Driver a DWI
According to an item in the news, the driver of a sport utility vehicle hit a Monmouth County light pole late on a Friday afternoon. Police reports indicate that the 41-year-old driver was heading northbound on Branch Ave. when his vehicle veered across the centerline, hitting the utility pole on the southbound side of the roadway.
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June 27, 2012

Linden, NJ, Driver Arrested for DWI in Hunterdon County after Colliding with Other Vehicles

by Jonathan F. Marshall

As New Jersey DWI lawyers, I and my colleagues are well aware of the circumstances that can surround a DWI-related traffic stop. While most people are, so to speak, content with taking their medicine and receiving a summons for drunken driving, others may not feel they deserve it. Those individuals will likely seek out the services of a qualified drunken driving attorney to better understand their options and perhaps to fight the charges in front of a judge.

On the other hand, there are other drivers who fear the potential repercussions so much that they decide to either avoid being stopped or flee the scene, if an accident has occurred while they were behind the wheel. The point we wish to make here is that it is never advisable to run from the law. It is the rare individual who escapes the long arm of the law for long, and when caught the consequences can be many times worse than if that driver had simply accepted the situation and hired a lawyer to assist in his or her defense.

Sometimes a driver’s actions can seem completely indefensible, but that is a conclusion best left for a qualified lawyer to decide in the comfort of a conference room with his or her client. Still, some individuals will make things hard for themselves, and for that we can only advise taking a step back and viewing the situation with a pragmatic eye. Take, for instance, the news story of driver who allegedly caused multiple instances of property damage to other vehicles while reportedly operating his car under the influence of alcohol.
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June 25, 2012

New Milford, NJ, Man Injures Sister in Bergen County Drunk Driving Crash

by Jonathan F. Marshall

Even if a victim doesn’t press charges or initiate a personal injury lawsuit against another person who may or may not be negligent in causing a car accident, local police and municipal courts are not likely to feel much sympathy for any motorist who causes an injury accident while allegedly driving drunk in the Garden State. As New Jersey DWI defense lawyers, I and my legal staff know how strict the law can be when prosecutors build a case against an alleged drunk driver.

New Jersey law doesn’t allow much wiggle room for individuals who are found guilty of DWI or drug DUI, not to mention breath test refusal and other DWI- and DUI-related offenses. Monetary penalties aside, one should always be concerned about the future of his or her driver’s license, as well as employment or chances for advancement. The potential social stigma of a DWI conviction can also put the brakes on a marital relationship, not to mention one’s standing in the community. All in all, being convicted for a drunken driving collision that also resulted in injuries or, worse, fatalities, can spell the end to a normal life.

We were reminded of this type of scenario not long ago when we ran across a news article detailing the events leading up to a car accident in Teaneck, NJ. According to news reports, the sister of an alleged drunken driver was seriously injured in a car crash earlier this past spring. Police indicated that up to the car crash that injured one of his relatives, the 27-year-old New Milford resident had apparently lost his license through suspension on almost two dozen separate occasions.
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