Visit any county in the Garden State and you will find a fair number of drunken driving arrests on a weekly basis. Whether you live in Hudson, Somerset, Mercer or Atlantic County, the stories are quite similar, though the circumstances and facts of each DWI case are unique.
It’s important to reiterate that most arrests for impaired driving begin with a seemingly minor traffic offense, such as failure to maintain lane, improper turn or even a broken tail lamp. While the initial traffic stop may have been for a minor infraction, that event can lead to the police officer noticing evidence of alcohol consumption, such as an empty beer bottle or wine cooler. The patrolman may also detect the odor of alcohol on the driver’s person, which can then begin the process of a DWI or DUI arrest.
As New Jersey drunk driving defense attorneys, I and my staff of experienced lawyers represent motorists accused of operating motor vehicles under the influence of alcohol, prescription meds, and even illicit drugs, such as marijuana and cocaine. The following police arrest blotter entries illustrate the kinds of DWI and drug DUI arrests that take place all across New Jersey throughout the year.
Illegal Immigrant Arrested for DUI
Arriving at the scene of a Saturday morning traffic accident at the corner of Giles and Academy Streets, police found a 22-year-old man in the driver’s seat of a Ford Explorer trying to restart the SUV which had apparently plowed into the back of another passenger vehicle. The Ford was also on the sidewalk Flores was attempting to restart the vehicle.
Apparently under the influence, Police removed the man from the vehicle. Continuing to question the individual, the officers determined that he was also in the country illegally. Officers arrested the driver and charged him DUI. He also received summonses for driving without a license, reckless driving and failure to wear a seatbelt.
He was ultimately released on the DUI charge, but was sent to the Cumberland County Jail on an ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) detainer.
