New Jersey DWI Lawyer Blog

Being charged with drunk driving in New Jersey is bad enough without having caused an accident as a result of being intoxicated. Killing another individual while under the influence of alcohol is another thing entirely. Police all across the state of New Jersey are always on the lookout for drivers operating motor vehicles while impaired due to beer, liquor or prescription drugs.

As a New Jersey DWI defense lawyer, I have defended many clients who have been charged with drunk driving. Some of those people were involved in accidents that injured or killed vehicle occupants or pedestrians. A recent news article shows how mixing alcohol with prescription drugs can result in terrible consequences. There are very few things worse than being arrested for a fatal drunk driving accident.

According to reports, Jury selection began Tuesday in Morristown regarding the drunk driving trial of 48-year-old Eugene Baum Jr. The man is charged with being drunk behind the wheel and causing the deaths of two teenagers back in 2006 when his car hit and killed the young girls on a Morris County roadside.

Police reports indicate that on April 20, 2006, Baum was driving a rented Kia Optima along Kinnelon Road in Kinnelon, NJ, when the vehicle veered off the roadway and onto the shoulder where the two girls were walking. Police records show that the defendant's blood-alcohol content (BAC) was 0.305 percent when the accident happened. Based on news reports, Baum's vehicle struck 15-year-old Mayada Jafar and 16-year-old Athear Jafar. The two cousins were reportedly walking to a nearby movie theater around 8pm when they were thrown off the shoulder by the impact.

Police have said that although Baum was severely intoxicated, he still decided to drive from his home in Dover to his mother's house in Kinnelon. During the police interview, he allegedly said that he thought he had struck a deer. He also later acknowledged that he should not have mixed Librium and vodka.

A mental health expert hired by the state has stated that Baum was "a functioning alcohol" at the time of the accident and that he could apparently tolerate high levels of alcohol in his bloodstream. In Baum's defense, an expert has suggested that Baum became an "automaton" when he drank and the combination of vodka and Librium in his body had an unexpectedly severe reaction that led to the crash.

Continue reading "Dover, NJ, Man Faces DWI Manslaughter Charges for Drunk Driving Deaths of Two Morris County Teens" »

According to news articles, the husband of Teresa Giudice, one of the stars in the well-known Bravo television series "Real Housewives," was recently charged with driving while intoxicated after the man crashed his vehicle into a utility pole minutes from the couple's home in Montville, New Jersey. Based on police reports, the accident occurred on the morning of Thursday, January 14, in Towaco.

Giuseppe Giudice was reportedly heading north on Jacksonville Road when the Ford pickup he was driving hit the utility pole just before 2am. According to Montville police, when officers arrived at the scene they detected the odor of alcohol on the 39-year-old driver. Due to the man's possible injuries, the police did not make Giudice perform any field sobriety tests.

Based on the news, Giudice told police he had been in New York and was heading home when the accident occurred. Emergency personnel treated and then transported him to Morristown Memorial Hospital to be checked for internal injuries.

After providing a blood sample, Guidice was charged by Montville police with DWI. He was also issued summonses for reckless driving, careless driving and failure to maintain lane. At the time of the news item, the results from the blood-alcohol content (BAC) test had not yet been released.

To add insult to injury, police also discovered several outstanding warrants for Guidice out of Clifton, NJ, for violating city ordinances, although there were no details regarding the type of violations. Although, Clifton police said ordinance violations typically are minor, Guidice was released to Clifton police after being held in Montville on $2,625 bail.

Husband of "Real Housewives'' star charged with DWI in Montville, DailyRecord.com, January 15, 2010

Now that we're several days into the New Year, I'll say it once again: New Jersey law enforcement agencies and local police continue cracking down on drunken driving around our state. New Year's Eve may be one of the more common times to find motorists drinking and driving, but every day has the potential for many drivers to be caught driving under the influence of alcohol.

As a New Jersey DWI defense attorney, I and my staff spend our days defending people accused of driving while intoxicated or driving under the influence of prescription drugs. Whether deliberate or not, the police and society have virtually no tolerance for this kind of traffic offense. A recent news article highlighted just a few of the countless DWI arrests that occurred throughout New Jersey this past New Years.

Based on preliminary police reports, there were at least 10 drunken driving arrests on the roadways in Bergen and Passaic counties as the clock struck midnight and people from all over rang in 2010. And while it appears that DWI-related fatal accidents were down this year, there were numerous drunk driving arrests throughout the evening and early morning hours of January 1.

According to new reports, Passaic County was free of DWI arrests on Thursday and Friday. According to the Passaic County Sheriff's Office, weather was likely a large contributor to the significant reduction in arrests. However, on non-county roads in Passaic County, and across Bergen and Morris counties, 10 people were arrested on driving while intoxicated charges.

At the time of the report, New Jersey State Police did not have a final tally of the total number of DWI arrests on State Police-patrolled highways during the holiday weekend, but it appeared that no fatal accidents occurred between New Year's Eve and into Friday morning on those roads.

Local police in Teaneck , Passaic and Fairview also reported three DWI incidents each between 11 p.m. Thursday and 7 a.m. Friday. In Fairview , police arrested a man after a traffic stop at 91st Street and Kennedy Boulevard , just over the North Bergen border, about 5:10 a.m. Friday, police said.

Clifton police arrested an alleged drunk driver on the Garden State Parkway who sent two people to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries Thursday morning. Sarah Wallace, 22, of Lodi , was driving an Infinity G37 in the northbound right lane near Route 3 when she tried to crossover to the left lane, allegedly hitting a Nissan Murano in the center lane just after midnight, according to police. The Murano overturned twice and landed upright on the right shoulder.

Police report 10 New Year's drunk driving arrests on North Jersey roads, NorthJersey.com, January 1, 2010

In New Jersey the law covering underage drinking and driving leaves little to the imagination. An individual must be 21 years of age or older to buy, be in possession or consume any type of alcohol-containing drink or beverage. In short: underage drinking is unequivocally defined as illegal. Because the state has such a strong stance against underage drinking, the legal consequences for this activity are severe under New Jersey law, especially when it comes to operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

Whether or not a youth is stopped for DWI, simply being convicted of drinking as a minor could affect that child's future driving privileges. As a New Jersey drunk driving defense lawyer, I know the negative impact that DWI and underage DWI can have on an individual now and in the future. For kids, this is not an area of the law they would want to experience. As a parent, it would behoove you to talk to your child about the consequences of underage drinking and underage DWI.

In this state, if a person under 21 years old is arrested for purchasing or consuming an alcoholic drink in an establishment licensed to sell alcohol, he or she could be fined $500, as well as lose their driver's license for up to six months. Parents take note here, because even if your child does not yet have a driver's license that potential suspension will start when the youngster is first eligible to receive his or her license. Furthermore, a young person who violates underage drinking laws may also be required by the court to attend an alcohol treatment or education program.

Anyone under 21 caught with even the slightest amount of alcohol in their system -- that is, a blood-alcohol content of 0.01 or more -- will be subject to: 1) the loss or postponement of driving privileges for 30 to 90 days; 2) fifteen to 30 days of community service; and 3) Successful completion of the program requirements of an Intoxicated Driver Resource Center or an alcohol education and highway safety program.

The Law Offices of John F. Marshall has a great deal of experience defending youngsters charged with underage DWI. I personally have been defending clients in New Jersey Municipal Courts for 15 years. Having worked as a municipal prosecutor earlier in my career, I know first-hand how the prosecution tends to approach such cases.

There is a new breathalyzer standard here in New Jersey, which is likely to have far-reaching effects throughout the state. For DWI cases going forward, a New Jersey Appeals Court has set a new Alcotest standard on December 1, confirmed a decision that states the patrolman who administers a breath test to a drunk driving suspect does NOT need to be the same police officer who witnessed the original DWI violation. As a New Jersey drunk driving defense lawyer, this latest decision only makes it more imperative that anyone accused of driving under the influence of alcohol retain a qualified DWI attorney.

According to news reports, this recent case comes out of Morris County and is good news for the police, as it provides them with more flexibility in their testing practices. Because a 20-minute observation period must be provided before a breath test, in the past this meant that the same police officer had to be off the street for the duration of the testing -- Alcotest machines are not portable, so DWI suspects must be brought back to the police station for breath testing.

A lower court had provided for the dismissal of a case against Joel Ugrovics in July of 2008. At that time, Ugrovics was stopped for speeding and eventually arrested for DWI. The person who operated the Alcotest machine was not his arresting officer. He provided a sample that showed his BAC to be 0.13 percent. However, Ugrovics pointed to a Supreme Court ruling regarding Alcotest procedures to show they were not followed in his case.

Since the original officer was not there to monitor and ensure the 20 minute period was followed, Ugrovics' defense team said the waiting period could have been compromised. A three-judge group disagreed unanimously and reinstated Ugrovics' initial guilty plea.

The argument from the prosecutor's office was that the Supreme Court's main concern with the waiting period was not who was monitoring the suspect but rather was meant to ensure that the suspect had not done anything to alter the results. It also would not necessarily always be realistic for the Alcotest operator to also monitor a suspect, prosecutors argued.

N.J. appeals court rules with police departments in Alcotest drunken driving case, NJ.com, December, 3, 2009

The coming holiday season is well known for its parties and family gatherings, and despite the poor economy drunk driving arrests are sure to surge during the next few weeks. In response, New Jersey DWI enforcement units are taking to the streets in an effort to reduce the instance of driving while intoxicated. As leading drunk driving defense lawyers, my firm has experience in a wide range of DWI and drug DUI defense. Recent news of the "Over the Limit, Under Arrest" campaign is evidence that drunk driving patrols will be working overtime in the Garden State.

According to news reports, law enforcement agencies across the state are already conducting saturation patrols and operating sobriety checkpoints, also known as sobriety roadblocks, as part of the nationwide drunk driving campaign. Enforcement will continue, say police, through January 3, 2010.

New Jersey's Division of Highway Traffic Safety is funding the local initiative, which began in 1999. According to reports, the division provides $5,000 grants to law enforcement agencies to cover overtime for those officers assigned to DWI patrols or checkpoints.

To illustrate the extent of the effort, 110 Jersey police agencies will receive grants, according to Pam Fischer, the division's director. The campaign will also include the New Jersey State Police.

A police spokesperson indicated that the holiday DWI crackdown will see officers on the street spending about four hours looking for "possible alcohol-impaired drivers" along with their regular patrols. "It's important that we keep everybody safe on the roads, especially near the holidays," said Vineland police Sgt. Vince Solazzo of the city's Traffic Safety Unit.

Police remind the public that last year, 11,773 people across the United States died in crashes involving a drunk driving, this is according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). According to reports, New Jersey saw 165 people killed in alcohol-related crashes in 2008, down from 195 in '07.

Extra drunken-driving patrols coming to South Jersey, CourierPostOnline.com, December 8, 2009

Numerous drunk driving arrests occur every month throughout New Jersey. Morris County, among others, sees its share of intoxicated driving traffic offenses on a weekly basis. As a New Jersey DWI defense lawyer and former municipal prosecutor, I have a wealth of experience in the area of drunk driving defense. The following is just a sample of the typical driving under the influence of alcohol and drug DUI cases that move through our court system every year.

Boonton
A 32-year-old local resident was charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving and refusal to submit to breath tests in the early morning hours of September 15. The woman was released, pending a municipal court appearance. Several hours later a 28-year-old man from Phillipsburg was arrested and charged with DWI as well as reckless driving.

Madison
Police officers arrested a 33-year-old man from Florham Park in the early evening of September 15, According to reports, officers Anthony Kaspereen and Sean McCarthy stopped the man for an alleged traffic violation. During the stop, the officers noticed a pill bottle in the driver's open glove compartment. After a brief investigation, police arrested the man for illegal possession of OxyContin and Vicodin. He also was charged with failure to maintain a lane, possession of drugs in a motor vehicle, careless driving and improper display of plates.

A local woman was stopped by police for driving 42mph in a 25mph zone on Elmer Street. According to reports, once police made the traffic stop it was determined that she was under the influence of alcohol. She was arrested and transported to headquarters for processing, where she was charged with DWI and speeding.

Parsippany
Following a routine traffic stop on westbound Route 46, police arrested a 20-year-old Newark man with possession of marijuana under 50 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was processed at police headquarters and taken to the county jail on $10,000 bail, according to police records.

Sparta
A Branchville woman was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana in her vehicle during a routine police investigation. Accroding to reports, officers were investigating a car in the parking lot on South Shore Trail at 2:13am. While police were interrogating the 30-year-old, they saw a glass marijuana pipe in the center console of the vehicle and subsequently arrested her. She was also issued a summons for possession of controlled and dangerous substances in a motor vehicle.

A 59-year-old local man was charged with driving while intoxicated following a motor vehicle stop on Route 517/Sparta Avenue at 9:41pm. Police observed the man's gray Dodge pickup truck being driven at a high rate of speed. In addition to the drinking charge, the driver was charged with speeding, careless driving and failure to maintain lane.

Police Blotter, DailyRecord, September 23, 2009

A Montville, New Jersey, woman was recently sentenced to 48 months in jail after being convicted for her third drunk driving arrest as well as vehicular assault charges after hitting a police officer and two other vehicles in 2008. Having defended many New Jersey motorists accused of driving under the influence of alcohol, I can only say that this type of case needed serious DWI defense work.

According to news reports, Andora Needleman, 47, pled guilty back in August to a couple counts of vehicular assault, as well as driving while intoxicated, plus leaving the scene of an accident. One assault charge was for hitting Officer Kevin Milley, while the second was for hitting a car with a five-year-old child on board.

Superior Court Judge Salem Vincent Ahto revoked Needleman's driver's license for 10 years, which begins when she is released from prison. She is expected to apply for early release from prison under the state's Intensive Supervision Program, which is a stringent form of parole.

The incident in question happened in June 2008. Officer Milley was directing traffic at the intersection of Route 202 and River Road when the apparently drunk Needleman struck two vehicles in traffic in front of her then hit the officer. Milley, who suffered bruises and pain in his back, neck, arm and shoulder, told the defendant in court that he would have pulled his service gun and shot at her as she sped off but didn't because other vehicles and people were in the area.

After hitting the officer, Needleman kept traveling in her 2004 Ford pickup truck. Morris County Assistant Prosecutor Brian DiGiacomo said that Milley got Needleman's license plate, which allowed officers to trace the registration. They were waiting at her Taylortown Road home when she showed up.

According to police reports, Needleman's blood-alcohol level was 0.26 percent -- more than triple the 0.08 percent level at which a motorist is deemed legally intoxicated in New Jersey. Since the incident, Needleman has been undergoing treatment for alcoholism.

Montville woman gets prison sentence for third DWI, hitting cop, DailyRecord.com, October 8, 2009

Montclair
A resident of Wayne, NJ, was stopped by police just after 12am on September 21 for allegedly running three stop signs. As a drunk driving defense lawyer with offices throughout New Jersey, I know that this kind of behavior is difficult to explain simply. However, my firm has represented many individuals arrested for DWI under similar circumstances, which is not uncommon.

According to police reports, the 44-year-old man was driving a 2006 Honda CR-V when he was pulled over by law enforcement officers at Valley Road and Church Street. Officers reportedly could smell alcohol on the man, who also exhibited other signs of possible intoxication, police said. When asked, the suspect explained that he had consumed two beers at a local bar earlier that evening.

Officers asked the driver to exit the vehicle and take several field sobriety tests. According to the report, he staggered as he got out of the SUV and then failed the tests. He was subsequently taken into custody and issued summonses for DWI and reckless driving, as well as failure to stop, and not wearing a seatbelt.

Morris Township
A 21-year-old local woman was recently arrested and charged with DWI following a motor vehicle accident on Washington Valley Road just before 4am. According to reports, when asked by a tow truck driver called to tow a 2008 Honda involved in a single car accident, the suspect said that she got into an accident at approximately 2am but hadn't reported it to police.

According to police, the woman told responding officers that she ran off the road trying to avoid a deer. However, because she showed signs of intoxication, and then failed several field sobriety tests, she was arrested for DWI, careless driving and failure to report an accident to police.

Mount Olive
Another 21-year-old female was arrested recently following a routine traffic stop for an expired vehicle registration. After stopping the vehicle along Route 46, police observed a glass pipe commonly used for smoking marijuana in the car's center console, according to police reports. The pipe allegedly contained suspected marijuana residue. The woman, a resident of North Bergen, was transported to police headquarters where she was charged with possession of CDS marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, expired registration and failing to exhibit her driver's license and released pending a municipal court hearing.

Pequannock
A Pompton Plains man was charged with driving while intoxicated during an early Sunday morning after police responded to a report of an individual asleep behind the wheel at Jackson Avenue and Route 23. Officers found a 2004 Honda Civic facing west on Jackson Avenue, approximately 15 feet from the intersection, with the driver asleep and the vehicle in drive shortly after 3am, police said. After numerous attempts to wake the driver, he finally woke and was directed to put the vehicle in park and turn the ignition off, police said.

Police news briefs, MontclairTimes.com, October 1, 2009

I've said it here before. As a New Jersey DWI defense lawyer, I have little patience for any malfeasance on the part of law enforcement officers or members of the prosecutor's office when it comes to upholding the laws that they are responsible for enforcing. Every individual accused of drunk driving or other alcohol-related offense should be treated equally without favor or discrimination. A recent news story about a couple police officers from the Randolph Township police department brought this to mind.

According to reports, former officers Shawn Boyhan and Stephen J. Kepler appeared in a Morristown courtroom on October 19 having been accused of destroying, concealing or altering official records. The two were forced to give up their jobs with the township, put on probation for one year and ordered to perform community service for trying to cover up the drunk-driving arrest of a fellow officer's relative.

The 31-year-old Boyhan entered a conditional guilty plea, saying that after he stopped a motorist on August 21 he learned the driver was related to another Randolph police officer. Boyhan said he spoke with Kepler, 49, and decided to "unarrest" the motorist and let him go. No breath tests were conducted and no paperwork filled out.

According to new reports, Boyhan then asked an officer serving as dispatcher to remove the record of the DWI arrest from a computer-aided dispatch (CAD) record.

Superior Court Judge Thomas V. Manahan accepted Boyhan into Morris County's Pre-Trial Intervention program (PTI), placed him on probation for one year and ordered him to perform 250 hours of community service. Boyhan had to resign from Randolph and can never work a law enforcement job in Morris County again. But he may, after PTI is done, apply for a police job outside the county. Based on Boyhan's conditional guilty plea, if could face up to 18 months in prison if he violates his probation.

Kepler, who has been on Randolph's force for 25 years will be allowed to retire and cannot hold a law enforcement job in the county again. He also was accepted into PTI but, unlike Boyhan, was not required to admit any wrongdoing. He was put on probation for one year and ordered to complete 75 hours of community service.

Kepler's pension attorney said he expects the now-ex-officer to collect his full pension, since the offense occurred after he accrued at least 25 years in the system.

It should be obvious that police officers have an obligation to treat all offenders that same regardless of the suspect's relationship to another officer. They also know that altering and manipulating official records to cover up any fact is wrong and constitutes a violation of law as well as ethical police practices.

DWI cover-up costs 2 Randolph cops jobs, DailyRecord.com, October 20, 2009

Every month dozens of drunk driving and drug DUI arrests occur in Morris Township, NJ, as well as across the Garden State. Police departments and state law enforcement agencies have a very low tolerance for driving while intoxicated. As an experienced New Jersey DWI defense attorney, my firm has defended hundreds of motorists accused of driving under the influence of alcohol. Many of their DWI stories are reflected in the various news reports shown below.

Morris Township
A 35-year-old local man was stopped by police after he was observed driving his 1997 Ford erratically and at high speed along Madison Avenue around 10pm on a Saturday evening. Upon pulling the driver over, police said he showed clear signs of drunkenness. According to reports, when the patrolman attempted to place the driver under arrest, he allegedly resisted. Additional officers were called in and the suspect was subdued and taken into custody. He was taken to headquarters where he refused to provide breath samples. Police charged him with breath test refusal, resisting arrest, failure to stop when signaled by police, failure to change address with the DMV, failure to keep right, improper passing and reckless driving, police said. He was released pending further court action, police said.

A middle-aged female resident from Long Valley was stopped by police after witnesses reported a possibly drunk driver in a white Pontiac coupe leaving the area of the Convent Train Station. Police observed the suspect's vehicle on Madison Avenue and followed it onto I-287 South. According to police, the vehicle exited onto Harter Road and almost struck the curb and failed to stop at the end of the ramp. Police pulled the woman over on Mount Kemble Avenue and Deyong. The 51-year-old driver showed signs of intoxication, according to reports, and she was subsequently arrested and charged with DWI and failure to observe a stop sign. She was released to a friend pending further court action.

A 27-year-old resident of Morristown was stopped by police after officers observed a 2002 Ford allegedly tailgating and weaving between lanes on Interstate 287 North at about 2am on a Sunday. According to police, the male driver was charged with careless driving, improper passing and tailgating. He was released to a friend pending a court appearance.

An Oak Ridge, NJ, man was arrested and charged by law enforcement officers for driving while intoxicated on Interstate 287 North just after midnight on a Saturday morning. According to police, a 2003 Saturn was observed weaving on the northbound side of highway 287. Following the traffic stop, police charged the 53year-old motorist with reckless driving and failure to maintain lane, police said. He was later released pending further court action.

Police Blotter, DailyRecord.com, October 14, 2009

An East Ruther ford man was sentenced to 4 1/2 years in prison by a Morris County, NJ, court on September 18 in the culmination of more than one dozen drunk driving convictions and 78 license suspensions over his driving career. Shaun P. Campbell, 40, was sentenced in Superior Court, Morristown, for the auto wreck in Morris Township that he caused while driving under the influence of alcohol this past April, as well as two other DWIs and driving while suspended he accumulated in Wayne and Pequannock in 2008.

As a New Jersey drunk driving defense lawyer and former municipal prosecutor, I must say that this is one of the most active drunk drivers to come through this state's court system in a while; which is likely why the Morris County Assistant Prosecutor Brian DiGiacomo requested "enhanced penalties" for Mr. Campbell, and why the court obliged by suspending the defendant's driver's license for an astounding 41 years.

Equating the dangers of Campbell's drinking and driving with the actions of a violent criminal, the court held up his 16 DWI convictions and 78 license suspensions as justification for the sentence, which included a 4 1/2-year prison term, more than $9,000 in fines and the near half-century license suspension.

In announcing the sentence, Superior Court Judge Salem Vincent Ahto admonished Campbell by saying, "when you get behind the wheel in a drunken stupor, you become a potential assassin. You earned the right to go to state prison."

Remarkably, through all of his drunk driving episodes, Campbell had never caused a reported injury to another person until April 23. On that day, he veered into opposing traffic and struck, head-on, a pick-up driven by Harold A. Bivins Jr., 48, of Chatham Township. Bivins' 4-year-old daughter, Hannah, was in a child's seat in the pick-up. Neither was seriously injured.

According to reports, Campbell entered additional pleas to driving drunk in Pequannock and Wayne and being an unlicensed driver on both occasions. On both of those occasions he wasn't actually driving but was discovered by police sleeping off bouts of drinking in his vehicle, which he had parked in local auto dealership lots.

Under the sentence, Campbell must serve 18 months in state prison for the assault by auto conviction. The remainder of the time behind bars, for motor vehicle offenses of DWI, driving while revoked, and leaving the scene of the April 23 crash, will be spent in either the Morris County or Passaic County jail.

Defense attorney John Paul Velez made arguments for a probationary term, saying that Campbell never contemplated harm, has been undergoing counseling and wishes to be a spokesman for the Intoxicated Driver Resource Center.

Driver's license revoked for 41 years; Man gets 4 1/2 years in prison, DailyRecord.com, September 19, 2009

A recent three-car accident in Morris County, New Jersey, resulted in an underage DWI arrest on September 10. During his normal patrol, Patrolman Michael Minni noticed what he discerned to be a loud explosion just before noon on Main Street in downtown Madison. Arriving to investigate, Officer Minni happened on three cars involved in an apparent traffic accident. As a New Jersey drunk driving defense attorney, my law firm represents many clients charged with DWI or drug DUI.

When drunk driving leads to an accident with or without injuries, there is always added effort expended by law enforcement personnel to determine the exact cause and nature of the wreck. In this case, the police found that one of the drivers involved in the collision was under the influence of alcohol.

According to reports, a 19-year-old Springfield man failed to stop, rear-ending a vehicle that was already stopped in traffic. The driver, Brian J. Smith, indicated that his passenger, 20-year-old Steven M. Decter, had left the accident scene following the crash. Police arrested Smith and transported him to headquarters for processing.

Smith was charged with driving while intoxicated, underage possession of alcohol, having an open liquor container in a motor vehicle and careless driving. Police subsequently arrest Decter, also of Springfield, who was charged with underage possession of alcohol. Both were later released pending a court appearance.

Although an underage drinking and driving conviction in New Jersey can involve as little as 30 days license suspension -- versus 90 days suspension for an adult DWI -- the future consequences for a young person who is convicted of underage DWI can be significant. Underage drinking and driving convictions can affect future school choices as well as employment opportunities. Underage DWI is serious and should not be dismissed. If a child of yours has been arrested for underage DWI, contact a qualified legal professional immediately.

Madison police make arrests for DUI, underage possession of alcohol and attempts to purchase alcohol by underage youths, NJ.com, September 16, 2009

As we slowly transition to fall there is still a great deal of sunshine and warm evenings to enjoy. The persistence of weekend parties and late-night gatherings will likely result in numerous drunk driving arrests throughout the Garden State by local and state law enforcement officers. As a New Jersey DWI attorney, I make it a habit to warn friends and associates to drink responsibly and utilize the services of a designated driver whenever necessary.

Morris County communities were recently in the news regarding police reports of intoxicated drivers stopped for driving under the influence of alcohol and prescription drugs, sometimes even illegal drugs. The following are some examples.

Hanover Township
A recent drunk driving checkpoint netted several drivers charged with DWI by the Hanover police between Thursday, September 3, and the following Friday. News reports describe a 47-year-old man from out of state who was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, as well as being issued a motor vehicle summons for possession of drugs in a motor vehicle. A second driver, as 37-year-old Wharton resident was stopped and charged with DWI and driving with a suspended license. Finally, a 61-year-old driver from North Caldwell, NJ, was arrested for drunk driving, as well as reckless driving.

An East Hanover resident was arrested for DWI in the early morning hours after she was pulled over for making an illegal turn on Route 10. According to reports, the 27-year-old woman was arrested after failing several sobriety tests, after which she was taken to police headquarters for a breath test. She was released to a friend after receiving summonses for DWI and making an improper turn.

Jefferson Township
A 24-year-old Wantage resident was stopped by police after the woman's car struck a guardrail on September 10. She was arrested by police and charged with driving while intoxicated, as well as receiving numerous motor vehicle summonses. Police reports show that the woman was taken to St. Clare's-Dover Hospital to be treated for minor injuries and was released, pending a municipal court appearance.

A 20-yeal-old local resident was charged with DWI and underage drinking during a motor vehicle stop on Espanong Road on September 7. According to police, the young man was cited and released, pending a court appearance.

Continue reading "New Jersey DWI News: Hanover, Jefferson and Morris Township Police Blotter" »

August is always a busy time for law enforcement agencies and police departments in Morris and Sussex counties. Dozens of motorists are arrested every month on charges of driving while intoxicated (DWI) or operating a vehicle under the influence of prescription or illegal drugs (DUI). Alcohol and driving don't mix, but occasionally individuals make mistakes. When it comes to drunk driving, those mistakes can be costly, not only in monetary terms, but also in terms of the negative impact a DWI conviction can have on one's social and work life.

As a New Jersey drunk driving defense lawyer, I have represented may clients who have made the mistake of drinking too much and getting into a vehicle. For most of them, it is the first and last time they do that. Whatever the reason, anyone who is pulled over for driving under the influence of alcohol or prescription drugs, I highly recommend that he or she seek profession legal advice from a qualified DWI defense attorney.

The following entries are typical examples of what happens when law enforcement officers encounter drivers that exhibit characteristics of drunk driving.

Morris County
In what likely was a case of underage DWI, Police were called to a Boonton Township residence on August 8 just before 3am by homeowners who were awakened by loud noises on their roof. The homeowner went outside before police arrived and saw several juveniles throwing eggs at his home. Upon seeing the homeowner, the juveniles drove off in an unidentified vehicle. When police did arrive, officers found several empty beer cans and empty egg cartons in the area.

A potential drug DUI situation reportedly involved three people parked in a vehicle in front of a vacant home on Rockaway Drive in Boonton on August 13. Police encountered the group in the late evening hours. Approaching the vehicle, Officers detected the odor of burnt marijuana coming from the car. They also saw a plastic bag containing marijuana in the rear passenger area. Police arrested the three individuals -- a 20-year-old from Parsippany and two 19-year-olds, one from Morris Plains and the other from Boonton Township -- and charged them with possessing less than 50 grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Two marijuana pipes were also confiscated.

Continue reading "New Jersey DWI News: Morris County / Sussex County Police Arrest Log" »