On Feb. 4, Hackettstown police received notification of a vehicle moving erratically on Route 57. The responding officer found the vehicle in question and noted that it was swerving. Upon executing a traffic stop, the officer concluded that the driver may have been under the influence of drugs.
The officer performed field sobriety tests that the driver was not able to successfully complete. Further investigation reveals that she may have taken narcotic painkillers prior to driving. Police did not indicate whether she had a prescription for the analgesic.
The 50-year-old Dover woman was arrested and charged with driving without a license, driving under the influence and reckless driving. Even if a person has a prescription for certain medications, some drugs may render one unable to drive safely. A person may not operate a vehicle while impaired by alcohol or medications, even if the drugs were legally prescribed.
Driving under the influence is punishable by fines of $250 to $400 for a first offense, up to 30 days in jail and a period of 12 to 48 hours at an intoxicated driver resource center. The driver’s license may be suspended for up to three months. A person who does not have a license will not be permitted to get one, and operating a motor vehicle without a license is a misdemeanor. Because these charges can have serious consequences, persons who have been charged with driving under the influence or a related offense may benefit from speaking with an experienced criminal defense attorney.
Source: New Jersey Herald, “Hackettstown police make DUI arrest,” Feb. 16, 2013
Source: New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, “NJ Facts: driving under the influence (DUI) + point system“