New Jersey DWI Lawyer Blog

With the coming holiday weekend police agencies around the Garden State will be on a heightened alert for partiers and other people driving while intoxicated between picnics and family gatherings. Regardless of the bad economy, drunken driving arrests and summonses are certain to increase in the next couple weeks.

As a New Jersey DWI defense attorney and drunk driver lawyer, my job is to help motorists who have been arrested by state police, municipal patrolmen and other law enforcement personnel for DWI and drug DUI traffic offenses. Many of these arrests occur at so-called sobriety checkpoints, which are frequently set up throughout the New Jersey area.

As part of the upcoming drunk driving enforcement campaign, known as "Over the Limit, Under Arrest," police units have taken to the streets in an effort to cut the instances of driving while under the influence of alcohol or prescription drugs.

According to news reports, law enforcement agencies are already conducting patrols and operating DWI roadblocks until September 6. Police officers in will be cracking down on drunk drivers as part of this summer's campaign. The state and local effort is designed to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving through high-visibility police patrols and public education.

The New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety typically provides grants to local law enforcement agencies throughout the state to run these programs. As one report mentioned, the state's traffic safety division said that last year New Jersey saw 185 fatal DWI-related car crashes -- according to reports, that number represents nearly a third of the almost 600 fatal accidents statewide in 2009. Authorities reported that nearly 70 of those alcohol-related deaths happened during the summer.

Over the Limit, Under Arrest, NorthJersey.com, August 26, 2010

As a New Jersey DWI defense attorney, I usually tell people arrested for drunk driving (or issued a summons for DWI, Drug DUI or other CDS-related traffic offenses) to seek the services of a qualified drunk driving lawyer. One of the more likely times to be stopped for driving while intoxicated is during seasonal DWI crackdowns where police used increased drunk driving patrols and sobriety checkpoints or DWI roadblocks to catch unsuspecting drivers who made the mistake of driving after drinking an alcoholic beverage.

According to news reports, law enforcement personnel from Lower Township will be on the alert for drunken driving violators as part of this summer's "Over The Limit, Under Arrest" Campaign. Commencing August 20 and running until September 6, state and local police officers will be setting up sobriety checkpoints and operating what are referred to as "saturation patrols" as they seek out and arrest motorists who could be driving under the influence of alcohol or prescription drugs.

This is reportedly part of a national campaign to increase awareness of the dangers of driving drunk by using what authorities call high-visibility enforcement. The campaign also utilizes public education in the form of posters, banners and mobile video display signs.

As part of the local New Jersey initiative, the Division of Highway Traffic Safety provides grants to law enforcement agencies and police departments throughout the state funds to run this two-week campaign.

According to news police records, in 2009 185 people were killed in New Jersey as a result of alcohol-related crashes. According to authorities, that number represents 31 percent of the nearly 600 traffic fatalities reported last year across our state. Apparently 67 of those alcohol-related fatalities happened during the summer travel season.

Drivers all across New Jersey should be aware that law enforcement agencies statewide will be looking for individuals who may be violating traffic laws, precipitating a traffic stop, which then can easily result in a DWI arrest. As a drunk driving defense lawyer, I have seen the results of enhanced drunken driving enforcement campaigns.

Motorists are typically picked up on the road or at sobriety checkpoints. Penalties for driving while intoxicated -- whether due to alcohol consumption or drug use -- can be very stiff and may also result in jail time.

Lower Police to Crack Down on Drunk Drivers, CapeMayCountyHerald.com, August 4, 2010

I would never suggest the kind of approach that one New Jersey resident used to complain about a police checkpoint that delayed him from visiting an ailing relative back in 2002. As a New Jersey drunk driving defense lawyer, my aim is to assist individuals in fighting DWI and drug DUI traffic citations. I will not argue that the sobriety checkpoints used frequently throughout the New Jersey area can slow down traffic and cause delays for numerous motorists.

The issue in this recently resolved case revolved around a non-drunk driving checkpoint that was set up in Mount Olive Township on August 4, 2002. For reference, DWI checkpoints, also known as drunk driving or DUI roadblocks are set up by local police departments to catch drivers operating their vehicles under the influence of alcohol.

According to a news report, William P. Duncan, Jr. was awarded $25,000 as a settlement for a suit he was pursuing against Mount Olive Township over the incident nearly eight years earlier. Based on reports, Duncan placed a 911 call to complain about a delay he suffered when trying to visit a local hospital to see a relative being treated there.

That non-emergency 911 call apparently prompted a police officer and township officials to press charges against the motorist. Court records show that Duncan spent two days in jail back in March 2004 due to the original incident. According to Mount Olive mayor, David M. Scapicchio, the recent settlement was reached because the township's insurance carrier recommended it was the best alternative.

News reports show that Duncan was driving to a hospital on August 4, 2002, to visit an aunt who had been taken there after falling down a set of concrete steps and breaking her hip. Traveling on Route 46, Duncan was stopped at a police roadblock by officers looking through car windows to search for contraband. Duncan became frustrated by the delay so he called 911 and used offensive language and asked the operator if they "lived in a Nazi state.''

Continue reading "New Jersey Driver Gets $25,000 from Mount Olive after 911 Complaint regarding Non-DWI Checkpoint" »

While fighting a DWI arrest is a fairly common practice, fighting a drunken driving charge after "blowing" a double-zero on an Alcotest device is somewhat out of the ordinary. As a New Jersey DWI defense attorney, I and my colleagues are certified in the proper use, operation and maintenance of the Alcotest breath testing machine typically in use by most all of New Jersey's police departments and state DWI enforcement agencies.

According to a recent news article, a Garfield, NJ, man was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol even after he registered a 0.0 percent blood-alcohol content on not one, but two supposedly well-maintained and correctly calibrated Alcotest devices. Regardless, Fair Lawn police charged 20-year-old Dariusz Palka with DWI anyway.

Based on police reports, Palka was pulled over around 2am at a DWI sobriety checkpoint on Broadway and 17th Street while traveling in the city with a number of buddies back on December 19. The friends were reportedly looking for a place to eat as the reason for their late night drive.

Based on police reports, the officers at the checkpoint allegedly detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the vehicle, after which Palka was asked to step out of the vehicle and take a field sobriety test. According to police, the driver failed several of these sobriety tests and was subsequently placed under arrest.

Reports indicate that officers also discovered an allegedly fraudulent inspection sticker on Palka's Ford Explorer and removed the item as evidence.

Police took the man back to police headquarters where he submitted to a breath test on two separate Alcotest machines about an hour following the initial stop at the checkpoint. According to reports, neither the Bergen County Police Department nor the New Jersey State Police had a drug recognition expert available so Palka was not evaluated for possible drug usage.

Although the man observed that he likely failed the field sobriety tests because he suffers from insomnia and had not slept in about 24 hours, police decided to charge Palka with "operation of a motor vehicle by a person whose blood alcohol is between 0.01 percent and 0.10 percent and is under the legal age to purchase alcoholic beverages. The man entered a not guilty plea and was prepared to go before the Fair Lawn Municipal Court in regard to this charge.

Man charged with DWI with 0 blood alcohol level content, NorthJersey.com, February 11, 2010

For drivers traveling in Cape May and surrounding New Jersey counties, news reports indicate that the Avalon Police Department and other law enforcement agencies are taking part in a DUI prevention campaign until March 17, St. Patrick's Day. Known worldwide as a day of celebration, Saint Paddy's Day can be a busy time for local police and state law enforcement agencies focused on arresting drivers found driving drunk, as well as violating other DUI and DWI laws.

As a New Jersey drunk driving defense lawyer, I have seen the effects of these enhanced enforcement campaigns. Many motorists are picked up on the road or at sobriety checkpoints, also known as DWI roadblocks. The penalties for drunk driving or drug DUI convictions can be very stiff and can also include jail time for repeat offenders. It's always a good idea to seek professional legal advice if you or someone you know is arrested or receives a summons for driving while intoxicated.

According to reports, the Avalon Police Department is currently participating in an impaired driving prevention operation until the 17th. It's no coincidence that this campaign coincides with St. Patrick's Day, which police know involves the consumption of alcoholic beverages by many motorists.

In order to help make the holiday safe for the driving public, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reportedly developed a safety program for local police agencies to put into effect during the month of March. This effort is based, according to the NHTSA, on statistics that show alcohol plays a major role in accident-related fatalities on St. Patrick's Day.

In 2008, 37 percent of motorists and motorcycle riders who were involved in fatal traffic wrecks on St. Patrick's Day had a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 percent or more (0.08 is the legal threshold for being drunk in New Jersey, as well as other states around the country). According to reports, there were 134 fatal accidents on St. Patrick's Day in 2008, 50 of which involved at least one motor vehicle operator who was legally legally drunk at the time.

Police recommend the following steps to having a safe St. Patrick's Day:

• Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin
• Before drinking, choose a designated sober driver
• Leave your car keys at home
• If you believe you are impaired away from home, call a sober friend or family member to get a safe ride home
• If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to their destination safely

Avalon Police Will Take Part in DUI Prevention Campaign, CapeMayCountyHerald.com, March 03, 2010

According to a recent news article, Cliffside Park police set a new record for drunken driving arrests in 2009. As a New Jersey drunk driving defense lawyer, my firm represents motorists from Bergen County as well as Essex, Mercer, Union, not to mention other areas around the Garden State. Being arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol or prescription drugs is the first step toward a conviction for DWI or DUI, which can be a serious and costly way to pay for lack of foresight.

Based on the news report, Cliffside Police stated that there were more DWI arrests in the municipality during 2009 than any other past year since records have been kept. Law enforcement officials say that the higher number of arrests for driving while intoxicated goes to increased drunk driving patrols and the additional use of sobriety checkpoints.

The number of arrests in Cliffside Park last year totaled 102 for alcohol-related charges. The money to support the new checkpoints reportedly came from the Cliffside Park Police Department State Drunk Driving Enforcement Fund. For this borough police established two separate DWI checkpoints and operated approximately 12 additional drunken driving patrols. The state funds that support added DWI enforcement come from legal fines and bottle taxes that eventually find their way back to the municipalities.

According to Cliffside Park police, the department made 87 DWI arrests in 2008. That was up from 58 in 2007 and 48 drunk driving arrests in 2006. This year-over-year increase may be a result of ever increasing drunk driving enforcement. It is said that Cliffside Park has one of the more proactive anti-DWI police departments in the county.

Almost all borough officers are Alcotest and radar-certified and have attended advanced DWI Training, including Standardized Field Sobriety Testing and Horizontal Gaze Nystagmnus.

Cliffside Park PD nets record number of DWI arrests, NorthJersey.com, January 8, 2010

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

Results from a two-week drunk driving sting operation show that more than 1,500 individuals were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol between August 21 and September 7. The "Over the Limit, Under Arrest" campaign was designed to snare DWI suspects in the weeks leading up to this past Labor Day holiday. As a New Jersey DWI defense lawyer, I and my colleagues represent many of the dozens of motorists accused every week of driving while intoxicated.

The latest report on that pre-Labor Day campaign shows that New Jersey law enforcement agencies all around the Garden State stopped and arrested 1,582 drunk-driving suspects, including 137 in Bergen County and 95 in Passaic County. According to news reports, Bergen County police officers also issued 1,973 summonses for speeding, while Passaic County issued 374 summonses for seat belt violations.

In East Rutherford, however, only two drunk driving arrests were made during the campaign, according to the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, although the municipality did issue 74 summonses for speeding.
The pre-Labor Day campaign was funded by the highway safety division, which awarded $6,000 grants to almost half of the state's 497 police agencies to cover overtime during the crackdown.

Elmwood Park, which had 15 drunken-driving arrests, more than any other Bergen or Passaic county municipality was on of the participants in the campaign. A local police spokesman for that municipality stated that the grant allowed police department to dedicate officers to roving the streets specifically for drunk-driving enforcement, in addition to those officers already on regular patrol.

The 15 arrests were "definitely higher than what we would normally get," said Lt. Bryan DiPasquale of the Elmwood Park Police Department. Officers also issued 27 speeding summonses and 132 seat belt summonses.

DWI crackdown snares a slew of other violators, NorthJersey.com, November 17, 2009

According to a recent news report, drivers in Middlesex County will see more drunk driving checkpoints, sometimes referred to as sobriety roadblocks, at all times of the year. The state of New Jersey has funded the operation of additional checkpoints with a $43,000 grant. Normally, the county would have sobriety roadblocks during certain holidays, however now it appears they will be a more permanent fixture.

As a New Jersey DWI defense lawyer, I have represented numerous motorists who have received summonses or been arrested for drunk driving or breath test refusal. While these checkpoints may reduce the number of drunk driving arrests in an area over time, they also can result in people being falsely accused of driving while under the influence of alcohol.

This latest announcement shows that Middlesex County, NJ, will be expanding its holiday DWI checkpoint program to year-round enforcement. The program will be supported in part by a $43,000 grant from the state Office of Highway Traffic Safety. According to news reports, these DWI checkpoints are very costly to run mainly because they require police officers to work overtime, plus there are additional costs for setting up and maintaining the roadblocks over the course of an evening to the early morning hours.

The grant will help pay for the cost to station officers randomly throughout the county.

Members of the Fatal Crash Investigation Unit (FCIU) will be used in the program. These investigators have a vast amount of experience in reviewing fatal crashes in the area. According to reports, a small percentage of fatal crashes -- which are at a record low of just 42 incidents -- are related to alcohol or drug impairment. However, authorities are quoted as saying that a large portion of the alcohol-impaired crashes involve drivers between the ages of 17 to 21 years.

DWI checkpoints will be set up year-round, Suburban.GMNews.com, November 5, 2009

Drivers across the New Jersey area, including Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Atlantic counties, may see an increase in police presence on the state's highways and surface streets during this coming Saturday, October 10. In a nationwide campaign known as "Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day," law enforcement agencies will be out in force looking for traffic violations and targeting zero fatalities for one full day. This effort may include sobriety checkpoints in various areas.

As a citizen of New Jersey, as well as a DWI defense attorney, I am always happy to see traffic deaths decrease. However, I know that some motorists can get a raw deal from local and state police during campaigns such as this. That is why I always encourage people arrested for drunk driving to contact a legal professional for advice and counsel.

According to news reports, "Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day" will see police departments statewide emphasizing and enforcing all traffic laws, including seatbelt usage, obeying the posted speed limit, avoiding distractions such as cellphone use while driving, and not getting behind the well when intoxicated.

Police data show that 591 individuals died in traffic accidents in New Jersey just last year. While this number may seem high, it represents a 19-percent decline from 2007, and also marks the lowest number of recorded motor vehicle deaths in the state since 1948, according to reports.

As with last year's campaign, law enforcement agencies throughout the state will be reporting crash information -- such as total number of crashes, injuries crashes and fatalities -- for the 24-hour period of October 10. Police will convey that information to the Division of Highway Traffic Safety, the state's lead traffic safety agency. The division will then compile and post this information on its website.

Approximately 66 percent of the 496 police agencies in the state, as well as the state police, reported crash data following last year's "Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day." A total of 1,065 crashes took place in New Jersey on that day, resulting in 201 injuries and two fatalities.

Lower Township Police promote annual Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day, ShoreNewsToday.com, September 24, 2009

As a New Jersey drunk driving lawyer, I constantly tell people who have been arrested for DWI or issued a summons for drunk driving or breath test refusal to retain the services of an experienced drunk driving defense lawyer. One of the most likely places to be pulled over for driving while intoxicated is a sobriety checkpoint, also known as a roadblock.

According to a news report, beginning tonight and running through Saturday morning the Monmouth County drunk driving task force, working together with New Jersey's Highway Traffic Safety division, will be conducting a DWI checkpoint on the southbound side of Route 35 near Holmdel in Monmouth County. The roadblock will be set up to pull motorists over into the Dearborn Farms parking lot where members of the task force and officers from the Holmdel Police Department will determine drivers' sobriety.

The checkpoint will be in operation from 11pm tonight until 3am Saturday morning.
Drivers who are stopped at roadblocks such as this are usually evaluated by a police officer using standardized field sobriety testing procedures. If a patrolman has reason to believe that a motorist is intoxicated behind the wheel, that officer may then request that the motorist undergo a breathalyzer test to ascertain the individual's blood alcohol content (BAC).

Our law firm attempts to alert drivers to the existence of these kinds of checkpoints due to the heightened incidence of drunk driving in or around a particular locale. The is because New Jersey law states that police and other law enforcement agencies can only set up sobriety roadblocks in areas that have a statistically high percentage of drunk driving arrests.

DWI checkpoint being held in Holmdel this weekend, AAP.com, October 1, 2009

A man initially arrested for DWI at a sobriety checkpoint in November 2008, the charges for which were dropped four months later, has sued for wrongful arrest. As a New Jersey DWI defense attorney, I have represented clients over the years who have faced similar circumstances. In the case of Tyrone Foxworth's drunk driving arrest, the claimant says that Officer Kristina Ramsi falsely arrested the Somers Point man and caused him to be prosecuted in a malicious fashion, thus violating his rights under both the Fourth and Fourteenth amendments of the United States Constitution.

According to reports, this individual was still charged with drunk driving even after Foxworth's blood alcohol content (BAC) registered a reading of 0.00 percent via a Breathalyzer test at the Northfield police station just 15 minutes following his arrest at the checkpoint. Police records show that no blood or urine was taken for a drug test at time, because there was no drug-recognition expert available that evening.

Based on news accounts, Foxworth was driving with two friends when his vehicle was flagged down at a multi-jurisdictional DWI checkpoint along Shore Road around 3am on Thanksgiving morning. As per standard procedures, every fifth vehicle was being flagged and pulled over, according to police. The complaint states that Foxworth was instructed to pull into a secondary check area by Absecon Officer James Laughlin.

According to court records, when Ramsi asked if Foxworth had been drinking he responded no. Ramsi then requested that Foxworth perform several sobriety tests, including various "balance" tests and a "horizontal gaze" test -- the complaint claims that "neither of the tests can accurately provide probable cause for this determination (of DWI)." Foxworth was subsequently arrested and charged with DWI and reckless driving.

It is important to note that in a previous court hearing, in which the charges were dropped, Judge Matthew Powals made sure to enter into the court record that there was "no observed improper behavior" on Foxworth's part.

This is a perfect example of why it is imperative to retain an experienced drunk driving defense lawyer to handle a DWI, drug DUI or breath test refusal case. Charges made are not always accurate, but without proper representation, an innocent person could be convicted of a serious offense, one that could affect that individual's future in more ways than one.

Man with 0.00% blood alcohol content sues over Northfield DWI charge, PressofAtlanticCity.com, August 26, 2009

Summer may be over, but New Jersey's law enforcement agencies are still hard at work looking for motorists who are driving under the influence of alcohol (DWI) or drugs (DUI). A sobriety checkpoint is scheduled for this evening near Belmar, NJ. According to a news report, the Monmouth County drunk driving task force, with cooperation from the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, will be pulling vehicles over between the hours of 11pm Saturday night and 3am Sunday morning along the southbound lanes of New Jersey's Route 35 in Belmar.

As a New Jersey DWI defense lawyer, I am very familiar with the police department's use of sobriety checkpoints. Sometimes referred to as roadblocks, they are commonly used to identify drivers impaired by alcohol, or prescription or illegal drugs. As part of these sobriety roadblocks, police usually request drivers suspected of driving while intoxicated to take one or more field sobriety tests.

Also on hand is usually a breath-testing device, like the Alcotest machine, which is used to determine the specific amount of alcohol in a person's bloodstream. The legal blood-alcohol content (BAC) in New Jersey is 0.08 percent.

Anyone who is arrested for DWI, taken into custody for drug DUI, or is issued a summons for breath test refusal is encouraged to retain an experienced drunk driving defense attorney. All of the lawyers at The Law Offices of John Marshall are certified in the operation and maintenance of the Alcotest device, as well as the standardized field sobriety tests established by the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). Only a small handful of New Jersey law firms can make this claim. We have the experience and background to represent individuals accused of drunk driving anywhere in New Jersey, which is why clients turn to us for highly skilled legal assistance.

Two DWI checkpoints scheduled in Monmouth County this weekend, APP.com, September 17, 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" »

Drivers traveling near Lawrence Township in Mercer County this Friday evening should be aware that a drunk driving sobriety roadblock will be operating along Brunswick Pike until the early morning hours of Saturday, August 29. This DWI checkpoint is part of a state and nationwide campaign to identify and arrest individuals operating motor vehicles while under the influence of alcohol.

The initiative, known as "Over the Limit, Under Arrest," is targeting the roadways of New Jersey in an effort to pick up motorists driving with an illegal amount of alcohol in their system. The entire nationwide campaign is running from August 21 to September 7, through the Labor Day holiday.

As part of this campaign, the Lawrence Township Police Department has received funding through the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety. Law enforcement officers will be setting up a checkpoint on Brunswick Pike just south of Franklin Corner Road starting around 9:30 p.m. on Friday, August 28. The DWI roadblock will be in operation until 4 a.m. Saturday.

Drivers stopped at this and other roadblocks throughout the state will be evaluated by a police officer, who may decide to conduct a standardized field sobriety test. If the patrolman has reason to believe a driver is intoxicated, that officer may then request that the motorist undergo a Breathalyzer test to ascertain the individual's blood alcohol content (BAC).

Our law firm endeavors to alert drivers to the existence of checkpoints such as the one in Lawrence because of the possible incidence of drunk driving in or around that particular locale. New Jersey law states that police and other law enforcement agencies can only set up sobriety roadblocks in areas that have a statistically high percentage of drunk driving arrests.

As a New Jersey drunk driving attorney, I always tell people who have been arrested for DWI or issued a summons for drunk driving or breath test refusal to retain the services of an experienced drunk driving defense lawyer. There is no reason not to protect yourself when you step into the courtroom on a charge of driving while intoxicated.

LAWRENCE: Police to crack down on drunken drivers, CentralJersey.com, August 19, 2009