Drunk DoorDasher With No Front Tire Arrested for DWI in Princeton, NJ

On August 8, 2024 around 4:10 AM, Patrolman Mateus Serrano with the Princeton Police Department observed a white 2019 Honda CR-V on Witherspoon Street near the intersection with Valley Road being driven despite extensive damage to the driver side front tire. He initiated a traffic stop and the driver pulled over in front of the bus stop. Patrolman Serrano approached the vehicle to make contact with the driver, who was later identified as Megan. He asked Megan what happened to her tire, but she told him that she did not know.

As he was speaking with Megan, he detected the odor of alcohol and noticed other signs of impairment. Based on his suspicion of impairment, he asked Megan to recite the alphabet and then count backwards from 88 to 68. Afterwards, she was eventually asked to exit the vehicle and perform field sobriety exercises.

Patrolman Lee initially administered the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test. During the HGN test, Patrolman Lee observed the lack of smooth pursuit, distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation, and the onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees. The second exercise was the Walk and Turn test, which was administered by Patrolman Serrano. During the Walk and Turn test, Megan did not touch heel-to-toe on each step and initially failed to count aloud. The final exercise was the One Leg Stand test, and Megan failed to raise her foot in the proper fashion while displaying a lack of balance.

Based on the extensive damages to her front tire, the odor of alcohol, her admission to consuming alcohol, and her inability to adequately perform the field sobriety exercises, Megan was placed under arrest for driving while intoxicated. Megan was searched by Patrolwoman Jennifer Lynn and her vehicle was searched incident to arrest, but no open containers were found. Megan was transported to the Princeton Police Department for further processing. Patrolwoman Lynn stayed with the vehicle until it was towed for a mandatory 12-hour impound as required by John’s Law.

At the Princeton Police Department, she was read the Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators, and she agreed to submit breath samples. Patrolman Lee operated the machine, and her Alcotest results indicated a BAC of 0.11%, which was more than the legal limit of 0.08%. After she was processed, Megan was released to her husband pending her court appearance after he signed the Potential Liability Warning form on her behalf. Patrolman Serrano issued her the following summonses: Operating under the influence, reckless driving, careless driving, tire equipment, vehicle in unsafe condition, and failure to notify DMV of address change

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