Pulled Over In New Jersey: How The Police Agency And Location Can Affect Your DWI Case

Where and who pulls you over for suspected drunk driving matters more than you might realize. This article dives into the topic of location and agency relevance for DWI stops in New Jersey, including:

• Why it matters which agency pulls you over for erratic driving in New Jersey.
• How location affects DWI cases and arrests in New Jersey.
• How timing, such as holiday seasons, can affect your arrest chances.

Does It Matter Which Agency Pulls Me Over (Highway Patrol Vs. Local Vs. Sheriff)?

When it comes to Driving While Intoxicated investigations, it can matter a great deal which police or law enforcement agency is involved. Generally, the better trained in DWI matters an officer is, the more likely you are to face legal challenges with your case.

Local Police:

Your DWI case could be more likely to be resolved in your favor if it is handled by local law enforcement, as such local officers typically have far less training on DWI-specific matters. However, this depends on the police department and whether their officers have completed specialized training programs.

State Police:

Generally speaking, the New Jersey State Police are fairly well-trained in DWI detection and standardized field sobriety testing. For the most part, state troopers will go through at least a five-day training course outside of their academy, training which specifically involves the detection of alcohol or drug-impaired drivers.

Some will have done more specialized training, which could involve Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) training or Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) training. Both of those training programs are focused on drug-involved driving offenses for the local police department.

Attorney Kevin Leckerman is a highly experienced New Jersey DWI defense lawyer who has handled thousands of impaired driving cases. If you need to get DWI charges against you lowered or dropped, he has helped clients achieve this outcome since 1998.

No matter where you have been pulled over or arrested in New Jersey, contact Leckerman Law, LLC. today to schedule an initial defense consultation.

The Sheriff’s Department:

In general, the Sheriff’s Department is not as well-trained as local police departments or state police. Many sheriff’s departments have officers who are unaware of the standardized field sobriety testing procedures or the telltale signs of intoxication. As a result, it can be easier to defend your case if you have been stopped by a Sheriff’s Department.

Port Authority Officers:

Many Delaware Port Authority officers who handle traffic coming into southern New Jersey receive fairly extensive training, especially when compared to Sheriff’s Department officers. As a result, it can be more difficult to defend your case successfully if you are stopped by these well-trained officers.

Who Will My Attorney Use As A DWI Expert For My Defense?

DWI experts are almost all former state troopers or local police officers who have become private defense expert witnesses. When employed by the State, they were responsible for training fellow police officers in DWI detection, field sobriety testing, and the operation of breath testing devices.

The DWI experts my law firm calls on are absolutely the most knowledgeable and best trained with regard to field sobriety testing and breath testing. It is a major advantage for you to have a defense attorney who has connections with exceptional and respected DWI experts.

Does Location Or Timing Affect My Likelihood Of Being Pulled Over?

There are certain days when you will certainly see many police officers along a specific stretch of road. This is especially true when State Police have been sent out to conduct speed traps or DWI sweeps. You may see a number of State officers patrolling a particular road one day, only to find it barren of Trooper presence the next day.

During major holidays, you will certainly see more State Troopers on the road in general. And if a local bar is known to have a number of intoxicated drivers leaving at a specific time, local police attention will tend to be drawn to that establishment. Finally, in small jurisdictions with a low crime rate, you are more likely to see officers out on weekend nights searching for possibly impaired drivers.

No matter where, when, or who pulls you over for DWI, you need a good defense lawyer.

For more information on New Jersey DWI stops and arrests, an initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (856) 429-2323 today.