New Jersey DWI Lawyer Blog
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