DUI Crackdown planned in 19 New Jersey towns on Memorial Day Weekend

DUI crackdowns and checkpoints have been planned in 19 New Jersey towns this Memorial Day Weekend. Police departments throughout New Jersey will be out on patrol as more visitors arrive for the unofficial start to summer.

An increase in patrol efforts has been announced by law enforcement since April as the high school prom season has gotten underway.

Driving under the influence and impaired driving will be targeted over this weekend. However, the specific DUI checkpoint locations were not released by the departments.

According to Ralph Stocco, spokesman for the Toms River Police Department, additional patrols will be out on the highways during peak hours to provide special attention during the Memorial Day Holiday weekend. “Supplemental patrols are being added to the barrier island, including Ortley Beach and the town areas north of Lavallette, to assist with the influx of people visiting our town,” said Stocco.

The checkpoints will not only target drunk drivers, but they will also involve two drug recognition experts to detect anyone who may be driving under the influence of narcotics or drugs.

Al Della Fave, spokesman for the prosecutor’s office, said that impaired drivers are responsible for approximately a third of the deaths that occur on Ocean County roadways. According to statistics, Ocean County had a total of 38 DWI fatalities last year, ranking as the fifth highest among the state’s 21 counties. Previously, it was ranked as the second highest among the 21 states.

A list of the towns where the DUI checkpoints will be scheduled include Ocean City, Manchester Township, Lakehurst, Brick, Toms River, Forked River, Holmdel, Highlands, Atlantic Highlands, Middletown, Keansburg, Hazlet, Union Beach, Keyport, Matawan, and more.

N.J. Supreme Court passes ruling stating that DWI suspects don’t have right to jury

TRENTON – According to the New Jersey Supreme Court ruling, DWI suspects don’t have the right to a jury trial.

Although a drunken driving charge in the state of New Jersey is not considered a criminal offense, anyone accused of a DWI will have to face jail time and steep fines for any repeat offenses. The ruling was passed Thursday in a 5-1 decision which stated that punishments for repeat offenders aren’t serious enough to trigger a jury trial.

At the same time, courts warned lawmakers that penalties for DWI offenses have reached the “outer limit” of punishments for a non criminal offense.

The Supreme Court ruling was based on the case of James Denelsbeck who demanded a jury trial after he was accused of DWI. However, a municipal judge denied the request and Denelsbeck was convicted of DWI.

According to Denelsbeck’s attorney, he will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court as he is very disappointed.

News Source: www.pressofatlanticcity.com