A new law was signed Wednesday which requires all new municipal police patrol vehicles to be equipped with video cameras.

The bill was sponsored by Assemblyman Paul Moriarty (D-4 of Washington Township) whose DWI arrest was captured in an in-car camera. The video footage of the arrest was later used in the dismissal of all charges against Moriarty as it showed multiple discrepancies between arresting officer Joseph DiBuonaventura’s pursuit of Moriarty. DiBuonaventura’s police report was totally different from the actual facts and the video helped clear Moriarity’s name.

According to the prosecutors, Moriarty was illegally stopped that day and was targeted by the arresting officer, DiBuonaventura. Moriarty repeatedly told the officer that he did not have any drink that day, but the officer still charged him. After a trial, the officer is now facing 14 criminal charges including official misconduct, harassment and falsification of a police report. According to Moriarty, the video of the incident was crucial in proving his innocence.

Governor Chris Christie signed the bill Wednesday evening stating that the bill requires all municipal police departments to install in-car cameras in all patrol cars, whether newly purchased or leased. The bill was specifically focused towards the use of in-car cameras in vehicles that are used for traffic stops. In case in-car cameras are not available, patrol officers can be equipped with body cameras as a more affordable option. Currently, only nine out of the township’s 50 patrol cars are equipped with cameras.

To cover the funding cost for the new equipment, a $25 surcharge was set aside by the legislation on DWI convictions.

Moriarity was arrested in his Washington township hometown in 2012 on DWI charges. His arrest was the impetus for the bill. Although the bill was initially approved by both the state Assembly and Senate in the last legislative session, it was pocket-vetoed by the governor. The bill was later re-introduced by Moriarity and it got approval from both the Assembly and Senate after that.

Moriarty, who also serves as Chairman of the Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee, said that having video footage is crucial to back up any claims of abuse or use of excessive force against civilians in court. Video footage not only helps protect civilians, but it will also ensure the protection of police officers who may be wrongly accused of impropriety.

News Source: www.NJ.com

According to Bayonne police, a third drunk driving incident was reported in Bayonne within a week. The incident involved a 29-year-old Jersey City man who was driving down West 49th Street in a stolen car. The man hit 3 parked cars on the way.

Another drunk driving incident that took place last Wednesday was caused by John P. Prins of Seaview Avenue at around 10:33 p.m. The Jersey Journal documented the incident stating that Prins was drifting between his lane and the one going the other way, hitting three care in the process.

Lt. Janine Foy with Bayonne police reported that Prins was driving west from the Boulevard toward Newark Bay on West 49th Street. He was driving a stolen white Nissan Altima and he hit another white Nissan Altima in his lane. Prins then veered into the other lane and hit a gold Honda Accord which caused his vehicle to drift back into his own lane and strike a silver Infiniti. All three vehicles were unoccupied at the time they were hit.

The incident was investigation as police arrived and found Prins to be under the influence. He was arrested and charged for driving while intoxicated, reckless driving and unlicensed driving. The vehicle he was driving was then reported to be stolen out of Hoboken on 18 August. So apart from the drunk driving charges, another charge was added, that of stolen property. The owner of the white Nissan was also contacted. The extent of damage to the stolen car and the other three vehicles was not described. However, the silver Infiniti and the stolen vehicle had to be towed from the scene.

Prins was taken to the Bayonne Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. His blood sample was also taken for testing to determine his blood alcohol content at the time of arrest. Results of the blood analysis were not available.

Prins’ bail was set at $25,000 with a 10 percent cash option.

The third drunk driving incident in Bayonne took place on 1 September when a man drove his car drunk after removing an ignition interlock device installed in his vehicle.

In another drunk driving incident that took place on 7 September, an intoxicated Edison woman struck four different parked cars on Avenue B.

Source: www.NJ.com

WOODLAND PARK – A 49-year-old Sussex County man, who was charged with DWI, was critically injured in the accident when his vehicle was struck by a tractor trailer. According to his medical report, he is expected to survive the crash.

Thomas McDermott, of Andover, was hit by a truck when he was crossing Route 80 on foot early morning on Wednesday 13 August.

According to Lt. Brian Polite, spokesman for the state police, McDermott was initially seen driving on the shoulder of the eastbound side of the highway in the opposite direction of traffic at about 5:25 a.m.

The police reported that McDermott made it to the left lane when he was struck by the tractor trailer. He was taken to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson and he remained conscious on the way.

According to Polite, police were already in the area as they responded to the report of the wrong-way driver.

“We were in the vicinity as he was observed to have exited his vehicle. And that’s when he crossed over and got struck,” he said.

News Source: www.NorthJersey.com

If you fall asleep behind the wheel of your car at 2 am at a major intersection and don’t move when the light changes, you are most likely to face a DWI charge.

However, that is not what happened in the case of Jeffrey A. Lancaster, of Galloway Township, who was involved in a similar situation on Feb. 17, 2011, at the intersection of Tilton, Mill and Shore roads in Northfield.

When Lancaster failed to move his car, a police officer, who happened to be driving several cars behind his car, came up to investigate. The officer banged the driver’s side window, shook the car before he finally roused. After that, the officer determined that Lancaster was “highly intoxicated”.

But what’s outrageous about the incident is that Lancaster was never charged with drunken driving or any other criminal violation, simply because he is an Egg Harbor Township police officer. Lancaster was never charged for the crime, nor held in custody. Moreover, the Northfield police called Egg Harbor Township police and arranged for an EHT supervisor to drive Lancaster home.

Such a situation is called professional courtesy by the cops, whereas others call it the blue code of silence. Whatever people might say, it is actually a violation of the oath every police officer takes when they join the force. Police officers are supposed to uphold the law when they become an officer, but Lancaster’s case is in total violation to the oath.

The law never says anything about protecting fellow officers who break the law.

The incident could have stayed in the dark and not come into the public notice at all, had it not been for the dogged efforts of John Paff, the chairman of the New Jersey Libertarian Party’s Police Accountability Project, who sued to get the public records regarding this incident.

A report by the Egg Harbor Township internal police was finally released which stated that Lancaster was staggering drunk that night. EHT Sgt. Michael T. Hughes drove Lancaster home.

The report stated that Lancaster admitted violating several departmental rules and was disciplined. However, he remains an officer and was never charged with drunken driving. Moreover, the Northfield officers were absolved of any wrongdoing after an internal affairs investigation when they did not charge Lancaster with a DWI.

Had it been anyone else in the same position, they would have been charged immediately.

Police officers often have the urge to protect their own because they only have each other when they face violence on the streets, which is commendable. But the minute a police officer puts another officer above the law, there is cause for concern. It only brings disgrace and undermines the respect that they need to do their job for which they took an oath.

News Source: www.PressofAtlanticCity.com

27-year-old Christopher Woolley of Bayonne was arrested and charged with DWI and other drug charges on Tuesday after police found him passed out in a nearly flipped over car.

When police found Woolley on Tuesday night, he was in a “lifeless condition” inside his car which was resting atop another parked car on East 26th Street. According to the police, both the driver-side tires of his vehicle were atop the parked vehicle.

Police reported that an eye witness saw Woolley slumped over inside his car as he was driving along East 26th Street before the crash. Woolley’s car crashed into three other parked cars before it came to rest atop another parked vehicle.

Police tried to remove Woolley from his vehicle by smashing the front passenger-side window. However, when that attempt failed, police then climbed on top of the parked car on which Woolley’s car was resting and broke through the front driver-side window. That window was pointed up toward the sky.

After that, the police officers were able to remove Woolley from his car’s front driver-side window. They immediately began conducting CPR on him in the street. However, Woolley was totally unresponsive.

Woolley was then transported by ambulance to Jersey City Medical Center. While on his way to the hospital, Woolley became conscious. According to the police, he reportedly told the paramedics that the last thing he recalled was injecting heroin.

Woolley’s car was searched and police found a hypodermic needle and five empty glassine bags, which are commonly used to package drugs.

At the hospital, Woolley was treated for injuries and his blood samples were also collected.

Woolley, who lives on East 27th Street, was charged with DWI and two drug charges. Police told that he was later released on a summons.

News Source: www.NJ.com

According to the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office, 33-year-old Jesse Petryk, of Monroe Township, struck an officer’s patrol car as well as the officer with his Hyundai Santa Fe. The incident happened shortly after 9:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Monroe Township officer, Anthony Vezza, is a patrolman. He had stopped a Ford Fusion on westbound Black Horse Pike near Corkery Lane where the incident happened. When Petryk struck the officer’s patrol car, the vehicle was pushed into the Fusion.

After the accident, Vezza was hospitalized for treatment of injuries. He suffered from a broken leg and knee injury. According to prosecutors, he was in stable condition by Sunday night.

The Ford Fusion stopped by the officer had two people inside. They both suffered injuries and were hospitalized.s

According to prosecutors, Petryk is facing several charges including driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, and assault by auto.

News Source: Mobile.Philly.com

HAMILTON TWP., N.J. – 41-year-old David McAvaddy of Egg Harbor Township, who was involved in a DWI crash, is being sought by Hamilton Township police.

The incident that happened earlier this spring resulted in the injury of one of the officers with the Hamilton Township police. An arrest warrant for McAvaddy was issued by a judge on Wednesday. A photo of McAvaddy was also released in the news with the warrant.

According to police reports, the crash happened on 25 April at 12:18 am on Route 40.

According to investigators McAvaddy struck Officer James Longo’s vehicle when he was on routine patrol. Longo suffered several injuries to his shoulder, back and arm. His SUV was heavily damaged in the crash. The officer was treated at Atlantic Regional Medical Center and returned to work last week.

McAvaddy faces several charges including reckless driving, assault by auto and driving while intoxicated.

The suspect is a white male, 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs approximately 170 pounds. McAvaddy has green eyes.

Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact Detective Frank Schalek at (609) 625-2700 ext. 567.

News Source: www.MyFoxPhilly.com

During this past weekend on the New Jersey Turnpike, a tractor trailer slammed into the bus in which comedian Tracey Morgan was traveling.  This crash resulted in the death of comedian James McNair, serious injuries to other passengers, and the hospitalization of Tracey Morgan.  Mr. Morgan suffered serious bodily injury and was in critical condition.

Although this was not a DUI related accident, the driver of the truck is rumored to not have slept for 24 hours prior to the crash.  As a result of alleged inattentiveness, the driver of the truck drove into the rear of the bus, causing it to flip over several times.

The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office in New Jersey, charged the driver with vehicular homicide (N.J.S.A. 2C:11-5) and assault by auto (N.J.S.A.  2C:12-1).  To prove vehicular homicide, the State must only show that the vehicle was driven in a reckless manner and caused the death of another.  “Proof that the defendant fell asleep while driving or was driving after having been without sleep for a period in excess of 24 consecutive hours may give rise to an inference that the defendant was driving recklessly.”

Recent studies have shown that drowsy driving is as dangerous as drunk driving. Drowsy driving accidents typically happen at night, but AAA reported that 25% of drowsy driving accidents happen during the afternoon.   High-speed highways, such as the New Jersey Turnpike, are where drowsy driving accidents usually occur. Most of these accidents involve drivers who do not try to avoid hitting the other vehicle.

In a 1997 sleep-alcohol study, researchers found that, after 17 hours of wakefulness, a driver was affected in the same manner way as a person with a blood alcohol concentration of .05%.  After 24 hours of wakefulness, the driver behaved as if he had a BAC of .10%.

Approximately 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries and more than 100,000 accidents each year are attributed to drowsy driving by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

WEEHAWKEN, N.J. – According to Port Authority police, a drunken driver ran over a police officer’s foot while he was trying to flee.

45-year-old Norberto Cancel of North Bergen was approached by officers when they found his vehicle blocking traffic at an approach lane to the Lincoln Tunnel in Weehawken. When they came closer, they found Cancel slumped over in the car.

When the officers woke him up, he allegedly put the car in reverse and ran over an officer’s foot.

The officer used his baton to break the car window and took Cancel into custody. He was charged with aggravated assault.

It is not clear if Cancel had an attorney or not.

The officer suffered a bruised foot and cuts on his wrist and finger and was treated at a hospital for his injuries.

News Source: www.Philly.com