Drunken Bartender Drives on Train Tracks before DWI Arrest

Around 4:25 AM on March 16, 2023, officers with the Neptune Township Police Department responded to a report of a disabled 2011 Ford Fusion on the train tracks near the crossing at Route 33 and Memorial Drive. The vehicle had sustained some damages, and the driver exited the vehicle as officers approached her. They proceeded to make contact with the driver of the Ford, who was later identified as Veronica Villarroel.

An officer asked Veronica where she was coming from. Veronica told the officer that she was heading home from Georgie’s Bar in Asbury Park. A few minutes afterwards, Officer Brian Bucossi arrived on scene to assist. Officer Bucossi asked Veronica if she had been drinking, and she admitted to doing so. Based on his suspicion of impairment, Veronica was offered an opportunity perform field sobriety exercises.

Officer Bucossi started with the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test, and he observed the lack of smooth pursuit, distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation, and the onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees. He did not observe vertical nystagmus. The second field sobriety exercise was the Walk and Turn test. During the Walk and Turn test, Veronica did not touch heel-to-toe on each step and took an incorrect number of steps. The last field sobriety exercise was the One Leg Stand test. Veronica was unable to perform this test because she could not keep her hands at her side and she kept putting her foot down.

Based on the motor vehicle accident, her admission to consuming alcohol, and her inability to adequately complete the field sobriety exercises, Officer Bucossi placed Veronica under arrest for driving under the influence. Her vehicle was impounded for a mandatory 12-hour hold under John’s Law and Veronica was transported to the Neptune Township Police Department for further processing.

At police HQ, Officer Bucossi read the Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators to Veronica, and she agreed to submit breath samples for testing. Her Alcotest results indicated a BAC of 0.22%, which is nearly triple the legal limit of 0.08%. Officer Bucossi issued her the following summonses: Operating under the influence, reckless driving, careless driving, and failure to maintain lane

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