On March 14, police released a Jersey City councilman after he was arrested on suspicion of DUI that morning. Police arrested the councilman following a three-car accident, which police are still looking into. The councilman was brought up on DWI charges before his release. A city spokesperson said that there would be consequences following the final police report.
According to police reports, the councilman's blood alcohol content at the scene was .15 percent, almost twice the legal limit in New Jersey. Police conducted a field sobriety test after allegedly smelling alcohol on the councilman's breath. The report states that police arrested him after he failed the test. The councilman had been returning from a St. Patrick's Day casino night.
The related accident involved three cars, including the councilman's car. According to witness reports, the councilman was traveling south on West Side Avenue when he hit a taxi going west on Communipaw Avenue, which in turn collided with a third vehicle after going into a spin. The councilman and the second driver both claim that the other individual ran a red light. Following the accident, police impounded the councilman's car. The second driver in the collision was taken to a local hospital for problems with back pain.
In New Jersey, a person is considered to be driving under the influence with a BAC of .08 percent. In cases where the BAC level is above .10 percent, drivers can face over $2,000 in fines, seven months to a year of license suspension and up to 30 days in prison for a first offense. Sometimes the improper administration of breath tests and rising blood alcohol concentration can cause roadside breath tests to be skewed higher. As each DWI case differs, a person being brought up on these types of charges may want to consult with an attorney.
Source: NJ.com, "Jersey City Councilman Charged with Drunken Driving after Three-Car Collision," Terrence McDonald, March 14, 2015
Tags: DWI charges, fines, license suspension