Woman Arrested for DWI at Over DOUBLE the Limit After Driving Without Headlights

Around 12:50 AM on July 26, 2024, Sergeant Adalberto Pacheco with the Highland Park Police Department observed a white 2022 Kia Sorento driving eastbound without headlights on Raritan Avenue. He activated his emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop but the vehicle continued heading eastbound before turning onto Woodbridge Avenue and eventually stopping near the intersection of Woodbridge Avenue and Volkert Street. He approached the vehicle from the passenger side and made contact with the driver of the Kia, who was identified as Alyssa.

As he was speaking with Alyssa, he detected the odor of alcohol and observed other indicators of impairment. Alyssa told him that she was headed home after picking up her male passenger from a bar in New Brunswick. Based on his suspicion of impairment, Sergeant Pacheco called for Officer Alexander Triana to come on scene and administer field sobriety exercises. Once Officer Triana arrived on scene, Alyssa was asked to exit the vehicle and perform field sobriety exercises.

Officer Triana escorted her to the parking lot of a nearby Krauszer’s Food Store at 93 Woodbridge Avenue to administer the field sobriety exercises. Officer Triana Started with the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test. During the HGN test, Officer Triana 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 detect vertical gaze nystagmus. The second exercise was the Walk and Turn test. During the Walk and Turn test, Alyssa did not touch heel-to-toe on each step and turned improperly. The final exercise was the One Leg Stand test. During the One Leg Stand test, Alyssa failed to raise her foot in the proper fashion and put her foot down before the test was complete.

Based on her erratic driving, the odor of alcohol, her admission to consuming alcohol, and her inability to satisfactorily complete the field sobriety exercises, Alyssa was placed under arrest for driving under the influence. After she was placed under arrest and placed in the patrol car, her vehicle was impounded for a 12-hour hold according to John’s Law. Officer Triana transported Alyssa to the Highland Park Police Department for further processing, while Officer Samson remained on scene until the vehicle could be towed by Dependable Motors Towing Company. At the station, Alyssa was read the Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators, and she agreed to submit breath samples. Her Alcotest results indicated a BAC level of 0.176%, which was more than double the legal limit of 0.08%. After they were finished processing Alyssa, she was released to her brother pending her court appearance after he signed the Potential Liability Warning on Alyssa’s behalf. Sergeant Pacheco issued Alyssa the following citations: Operating under the influence, reckless driving, and failure to use lighted lamps

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