Ocean County DWI Defense

July 15, 2009

Howard Stern Regular, Artie Lange, Charged with Drug DUI after New Jersey Car Crash

Comedian Artie Lange, who regularly makes guest appearances on Howard Stern’s radio program, has been charged with driving under the influence of an intoxicant following a Ocean County car accident last Friday. According to reports, Toms River police made the DUI arrest of the witty stand-up artist after the 2009 Nissan Sentra he was driving ran into the back of a Pontiac Grand Am in the early afternoon.

It is widely known that the performer has had trouble with substance abuse over the years, from prescription medicines and alcohol to heroin. Although the crash was not serious, with no injuries, police noted Lange’s odd behavior following the incident and decided to arrest him.

As a New Jersey DWI and DUI defense attorney, I have represented many clients that were arrested by police due to strange behavior after an automobile accident. Although Lange has had a history of substance abuse, it would be wrong to assume the man is guilty of drug DUI simply on that fact alone.

News reports indicate that Lange, who was on his way to a promotional event for his best-selling book, “Too Fat to Fish,” was released after being issued a summons to appear in court this Thursday, July 16 — on Tuesday Lange’s attorney entered a not guilty plea, stating the comedian had passed an Alcotest breath test, which probably rules out alcohol but says nothing about impairment due to possible drug use. If found guilty of a first-time drug DUI offense, Lange could receive up to 30 days in jail, a maximum of $1,000 and possible loss of his driver’s license for as long as 12 months.

Entertainment news outlets say that Lange’s physical and mental health has been showing some signs of improvement over the past few months. The heavyset comedian had reportedly lost more than fifty pounds as well as claiming total sobriety. He has been reported as saying that that he was in love with a new girlfriend, but that if he ever started using drugs again, she should “get the hell away from me.”
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June 26, 2009

New Jersey State Police to Reel In Drunk Boat Captains this Summer

by Jonathan F. Marshall

Any small craft captain worth his salt knows it’s boating season, but before you power up your twin inboard, take a moment to scan the horizon and double-check your alcoholic beverage intake. This weekend, from Sandy Hook to Cape May, the New Jersey State Police will be patrolling offshore in search of intoxicated boat operators. And just like DWI for landlubbers, being arrested for boating under the influence (or BUI) can be a costly experience.

Drunk boating, like drunk driving, is enforced by local and state police units. This latest campaign, christened “Operation Dry Water,” begins today and runs through Sunday, June 28. It’s a combined effort between the New Jersey State Police and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and designed to hook skippers piloting their craft under the influence of alcohol in state waters, which includes bays and the ocean up to three miles out.

According to the USCG, enforcement will be heaviest in the Atlantic City and Cape May areas, with sobriety checkpoints set up at various points on the water. In addition to BUI offenses, law enforcement personnel will be looking for anyone navigating recklessly or carelessly. Those observed exhibiting drunken behavior should be prepared to be boarded and examined for intoxication.

In New Jersey, boaters can lose their boating privileges for one year and their automobile driver’s license as well. That’s three months for a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 percent or more, and seven months for 0.10 percent or more. You should know that while New Jersey does not confiscate boats of those captains who are arrested for BUI, other states do confiscate watercraft.

Authorities also will usually administer field sobriety tests, although they can be somewhat different from those conducted on dry land. And although they do not want to give away their tactics in detail for this coming weekend, law enforcement agencies say their goal is not to arrest boaters so much as to educate them about the BUI problem.

One message authorities are pushing is that alcohol has an enhanced effect on the water. According to experts, the glaring sun, waves, motion of the boat and other influences aboard a boat only help the body absorb alcohol faster. This can impair an individual’s motor functions, reaction time, judgment and other critical boating skills.
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June 25, 2009

Thomas Campo to Join Our DWI Defense Team

by Jonathan F. Marshall

We are excited to announce that Thomas Campo, Esq., has agreed to become a part of our drunk driving and criminal defense practice. Tom possesses extensive knowledge and experience litigating New Jersey dwi, refusal and dui cases. His skills as a litigator have been refined over approximately 15 years including time as an Essex County Prosecutor, Monmouth County Prosecutor and, most recently, serving as municipal prosecutor in towns such as Toms River, Brick Township, Holmdel, Point Pleasant Beach, Mantoloking, Stafford, Ship Bottom, Surf City, Long Beach, Beach Haven, Beachwood, Waretown (also known as Ocean Township), Lacey, Tuckerton, Little Egg Harbor and Plumsted. I have known Tom for a long time and have always been impressed by, among other things, his overwhelming accolades, especially from prosecutors and police officers with whom he has worked.

Tom’s arrival to our practice coincides with our recent efforts to provide additional legal resources for those charged with driving while intoxicated and/or breath test refusal in Ocean County. In this regard, we recently launched DWI, Refusal & DUI resource pages for Beachwood, Bay Head, Barnegat Township, Beach Haven, Berkeley Township, Brick Township, Eagleswood Township, Island Heights, Jackson, Lacey Township, Lakehurst, Lakewood Township, Lavallette, Little Egg Harbor Township, Long Beach Township, Manchester Township, Mantoloking, Ocean Township (Waretown), Plumsted Township, Seaside Park, Seaside Heights, Ship Bottom, Stafford, Toms River, and Tuckerton. Tom has served as municipal prosecutor in a large majority of these municipalities at one time or another. His familiarity with the Courts and the police officers in these venues should be very helpful to our clients.

June 22, 2009

Ocean County DWI Arrest? Why You Need a New Jersey Drunk Driving Defense Attorney

by Jonathan F. Marshall

Have you been arrested for DWI in Barnegat, Lacey or Manchester Township? Perhaps you’ve been stopped for driving under the influence of alcohol in one of the smaller communities, such as Island Heights, Seaside Park or Bayhead. The summer months bring out the fun-loving spirit in all of us, but sometimes individuals get a little too loose.

Whether you have recently been ticketed for DWI or received a summons for being under the influence while sitting in your parked car. Were you intoxicated? Maybe. Was that drunk driving charge truly deserved? Maybe, and maybe not. Like many aspects of the law, not every DWI case is completely black and white.

As New Jersey DWI defense attorneys, many of our clients believe they have been unfairly accused. Although some may have actually broken the law, they also understand the consequences of a drunk driving conviction and they want to improve their chances in court. But the people I worry most about are the ones that don’t seek our firm’s advice and counsel. Those are the people that believe they “earned” that summons. Or maybe they believe, incorrectly, that there is no way to fight the charges. But this is the wrong way to look at it.