Driver Frustrates Cops with Language Barrier Before DWI Arrest in Hoboken, NJ

On February 10, 2024 around 6:15 PM, Officers Daniel Grossi and Nicolas Losurdo with the Hoboken Police Department observed a black Honda Accord that was heavily tinted (in violation of State law) driving southbound on Grand Street from 2nd Street. Since they were unable to see anyone inside the vehicle, they provided dispatch with the vehicle’s registration and followed the vehicle. The vehicle then turned into the parking lot of 400 Newark Street, and eventually pulled into a parking space. As the vehicle seemed ready to leave the lot, the officers activated their overhead lights and sirens and initiated a traffic stop. They made contact with the driver, who was later identified as 39-year-old Murat.

Officer Grossi asked for his license and informed him that his vehicle was tinted in violation of State law. As he was speaking with the driver, he observed indicators of impairment and detected the odor of another substance that could also cause impairment if smoked before driving. In the back of the vehicle, he observed 3 open containers of Coors Light. Murat was asked if he had anything to drink, and he said that he had “one soda.” The driver also told the officers that he was Turkish and claimed that he did not understand everything they were telling him. Based on their suspicion of impairment, the drive was asked to exit the vehicle and perform field sobriety exercises.

The officers decided to use Google Translate to assist with giving him instructions. Officer Grossi started with the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test. During the HGN test, Officer Bonilla observed the lack of smooth pursuit and distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation, but he did not detect the onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees or vertical nystagmus. The second exercise was the Walk and Turn test. During the Walk and Turn test, Murat did not touch heel-to-toe on each step while walking backwards as he returned to the starting position. The final exercise was the One Leg Stand test, and Murat displayed a lack of balance and failed to raise his foot in the proper fashion.

Based on their suspicion resulting from his the tinted windows, the odor of alcohol, the open containers of alcohol inside the vehicle, and his inability to adequately perform the field sobriety exercises, Murat was placed under arrest for driving while intoxicated. A search of his person incident to arrest did not reveal any prohibited items, while a search of his vehicle yielded 2 prescription bottles and 1 baggy of something they suspected was prohibited. He was transported to the Hoboken Police Department for further processing. He agreed to submit breath samples for testing, and the results indicated a BAC of 0.03%. After she was processed, she was released to a sober adult pending her court appearance after he signed the Potential Liability Warning form on her behalf. Officer Bonilla issued her the following summonses: Operating under the influence (39:4-50), reckless driving (39:4-96), open container (39:4-51b), and safety glass violation (39:3-75.1)

------------------------------------------

Please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and consider supporting this channel (email us for more information). Donations will be used to acquire more public footage related to law enforcement activities.

Our content is educational and in compliance with YouTube's Fair Use Policy because we edit several long clips into a concise story. This is similar to other law enforcement channels on YouTube. All videos and case documents were obtained pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Records Act, N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq. (P.L. 2001, c. 404). Defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty.

The New Jersey Supreme Court has previously affirmed in Salzano v. North Jersey Media Group, 993 A.2d 778 (2010) that “The fair-report privilege reflects the judgment that the need, in a self-governing society, for free-flowing information about matters of public interest outweighs concerns over the uncompensated injury to a person's reputation.” This video advances a compelling public interest. The summary of events was based on records that are “open to public view through open access to public records” as defined in the Salzano case. In Ramos v. Flowers, 429 N.J. Super. 13, the Appellate Division of the Superior Court has also affirmed the right to film law enforcement interactions.