New Jersey DWI Lawyer Blog
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.
Chester Township, NJ
A 26-year-old woman was stopped by local police after the vehicle she was driving allegedly crossed over the centerline, as well as not signaling a turn, along a stretch of Parker Road. During the subsequent traffic stop, the officer in charge reportedly observed signs that the driver may have consumed alcohol. After performing a series of standardized field sobriety tests, the patrolman concluded that the woman was impaired due to alcohol. She was arrested charged DWI, as well as a number of other traffic offenses, including failing to stay right, failing to use her turn signal and reckless driving.
A couple days later, two 21-year-old male residents of Succasunna, NJ, were stopped in a late model Jeep along a portion of Pleasant Hill Road. The officer had reportedly observed the vehicle speeding, after which he pulled the vehicle over for a routine traffic stop. During the encounter, the patrolman noticed the smell of burnt marijuana. According to reports, both of the men were arrested and charged with marijuana possession of less than 50gm. The driver was also cited for speeding.
Jefferson, NJ
Reportedly observing a vehicle being driven in an allegedly erratic manner, patrolmen stopped a 22-year-old Haskell resident. During the traffic stop, the officer in charge apparently detected signs of alcohol use as well as evidence of weed on the driver’s person. The driver was arrested and charged with marijuana possession and also drunken driving. He was processed and eventually released pending a court date.
Not long after the above arrest, a 55-year-old woman and a 37-year-old man were stopped in separate instances by police for what initially may have been routine traffic violations. In each case, upon further investigation the policemen in charge arrested the drivers and charged each of them with DWI. In the man’s case, he was also cited for refusing to take a breathalyzer test.
Long Hill, NJ
A Bernardsville driver was stopped by police after officers apparently observed the man’s vehicle being operated in a reckless fashion along a stretch of Valley Rd in Gillette, NJ. After stopping the vehicle, officers reportedly arrested the man and charged the motorist with driving under the influence of alcohol.
Police Blotter: Break-in at Jefferson Dunkin Donuts, fighting in Hopatcong; DailyRecord.com; May 12, 2012