Marijuana Possession in a Vehicle

July 26, 2012

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

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 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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April 25, 2012

Garden State Police Blotter: Multiple DWI Arrests, Drug Possession Charges and Alcohol-related Driving Offenses

by Jonathan F. Marshall

As we usually see here in the Garden State, not all is sweetness and light on our city streets and highways. While many motorists go about their lives in relative anonymity, the occasional traffic stop is enough to bring one’s name into the local spotlight, if only in the police blotter section of the newspapers. For many, the seemingly inconsequential second or third drink during lunch or dinner can sometimes result in a police arrest and DWI-DUI charges being pressed against an otherwise law-abiding citizen.

As New Jersey DWI defense attorneysI and my legal staff know what can happen when a driver makes a minor mistake in clear view of a state of local police officer. If that individual has recently consumed even a small amount of alcohol, the potential of a DWI arrest is waiting just one wrong turn away in some cases.

Although it is not legal for a patrolman to stop a car simply on the suspicion that its driver is impaired by alcohol (such as beer, wine or hard liquor), doctor-prescribed medication (like pain killers and other opiates), or an illicit substance (such as marijuana, meth or cocaine), what must first occur is a vehicle infraction or driving-related offense.
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March 30, 2012

New Jersey Police Blotter: Bergen DWI, DUI and Underage Drinking Arrests in Wyckoff, Glen Rock

by Jonathan F. Marshall

Every day of every week, all across New Jersey, state police and local law enforcement officers make multiple arrests of drivers whom they suspect of being intoxicated by alcohol, doctor-prescribed medication (drug DUI), and sometimes even illegal drugs like cocaine, marijuana and meth. While many of these individuals may have had a drink prior to getting behind the wheel, not all of them were necessarily legally drunk at the time of the traffic stop.

As Garden State DWI defense lawyers, I and my staff of legal professionals have decades of collective experience representing people charged with drunken driving in counties such as Ocean, Sussex, Union and Passaic. A percentage of these individuals who have been charged with DWI, drug DUI, refusal to take a breathalyzer test, and other traffic-related infractions, may actually be found guilty. Others may not.

One thing is certain: Here in New Jersey, fines and penalties for drunken driving can be harsh and highly punitive. Some of the most costly aspects of a drunken driving conviction is the potential increase of a driver’s auto insurance premium; this can equal thousands of dollars a year on top of an individuals “normal” insurance costs.
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February 26, 2012

New Jersey Police Blotter: Drunk Driving and Drug DUI Arrests in Ocean and Union Counties

by Jonathan F. Marshall

Any driver who lives or works in the Garden State may already know that arrests for drunken driving occur quite often all around the state. Although being pulled over for a traffic violation does not automatically mean that a driver will be charged with driving under the influence, there are numerous opportunities for motorists to be stopped and potentially charged with a DWI.

Much of this has to do with the circumstances and whether the arresting officer is convinced that an individual is impaired at the time of the traffic stop. Not all DWI and DUI arrests result in conviction; however, as New Jersey drunken driving defense lawyers, I and my staff of experienced DWI attorneys know full well that having any amount of alcohol or drugs in one’s bloodstream at the time of a traffic stop can result in charges being pressed.

Sometimes getting a summons for DWI — or breath test refusal, if one chooses to decline taking a breathalyzer test — is just a matter of timing. Be advised that feeling you are in the right does not change the way a police officer views the situation on the roadside. As we always suggest to friends and associates, it’s better to err on the side of caution and get a sober ride home than to take one’s chances with the local police and possibly be charged with impaired driving due to alcohol or prescription drug use (drug DUI).
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February 5, 2012

Union County Police Blotter: Cranford, NJ, Police Arrests include DWI, Drug DUI and Underage Drinking

by Jonathan F. Marshall

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.
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January 18, 2012

Passaic County DWI News: New Jersey Man Arrested for DUI, Marijuana Possession following Hit-and-Run

by Jonathan F. Marshall

Causing a traffic accident is bad enough when alcohol or prescription drugs (

December 4, 2011

Bergen County Police Blotter: Ridgewood, Ramsey and Park Ridge DWI Arrests, Drug DUI Charges

by Jonathan F. Marshall

With the holidays fast upon us there is a more than better chance that someone you know may be stopped by state police or local law enforcement for some type of traffic violation. Of those Garden State motorists stopped by police for offenses such as speeding, improper lane change, or an number of so-called minor traffic infractions, there is always a chance that the driver may be accused of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

Being impaired by beer, wine, hard liquor or prescription medication (drug DUI) is cause for a patrolman to arrest a driver for driving while intoxicated. A DWI or DUI arrest can also lead to extensive fines and other penalties, even for a first-time offender. It’s not unusual an individual convicted for multiple offenses to also face jail time, depending on the circumstances. As New Jersey drunken driving defense lawyers, I and my staff of legal professionals have the skills and experience in representing drivers accused of DWI and drug DUI (including cases where illicit drugs — also known as controlled dangerous substances, or CDS — such as marijuana and cocaine are involved).

Anyone who is arrested for driving under the influence faces similar charges and, likewise, similar penalties, the individual circumstances will vary accordingly. The following is a short list of recent arrests by police officers in Bergen County, though DWI and drug DUI arrest happen every day in other counties across the state, such as Monmouth, Union, Passaic and Essex. Here are some examples:

Ridgewood, NJ
Late on a Monday evening, a local patrolman stopped a vehicle driving along a stretch of N. Maple Ave. The officer apparently stopped the motorist because of visible front-end damage and a report of a hit-and-run accident in the Ho-Ho-Kus area. As a result of the traffic stop, the policeman determined that the driver was in fact involved in said traffic accident. On further investigation, the police officer also determined that the 30-year-old out-of-state driver behind the wheel was impaired due to alcohol consumption. The man was taken into custody and charged with drunk driving, marijuana (CDS) possession and drug paraphernalia possession, open alcoholic beverage container in a motor vehicle. In addition to DWI, the driver was also charged with careless and unsafe driving. He was released pending a court appearance.
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