Woman Arrested for FIFTH DWI at TRIPLE THE LIMIT in Montville Township, NJ

Around 8:57 PM on January 7, 2023, Patrolman Daniel Cooney with the Montville Township Police Department responded to 620 Main Street in front of Santander Bank on a report of a female behind the wheel of a disabled 2016 Volkswagen Jetta. As he approached the vehicle, he noticed that the front passenger side tire was damaged. He made contact with the female, who was identified as Kelly Terranova.

As he was speaking with Kelly, he detected the odor of alcohol and observed other indicators of impairment. Kelly also hesitated when she was asked to provide her documents. Based on his suspicion of impairment, he escorted Kelly to the parking lot of Santander Bank and asked her to perform field sobriety exercises after Patrolman Jared Piwowarski and Patrolman Thomas French arrived on scene to assist.

Patrolman Cooney started with was the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test. During the HGN test, he 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. During the Walk and Turn test, Kelly failed to touch heel-to-toe on each step, turned improperly, and failed to count aloud. The final exercise was the One Leg Stand test, and but Kelly failed to attempt this test in a satisfactory manner.

Based on the indicators of impairment, the odor of alcohol, and her inability to satisfactorily complete the field sobriety exercises, Patrolman French placed Kelly under arrest for driving under the influence. After she was placed under arrest, her vehicle was impounded for a 12-hour hold according to John’s Law. Patrolman French initially transported Kelly to the Lincoln Park Police Department for the administration of the breathalyzer test.

At the Lincoln Park Police Department, Kelly was read the Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators, and she agreed to submit breath samples. The machine was administered by Patrolwoman Jennifer Hesse with the Lincoln Park Police Department. Her Alcotest results indicated a BAC level of 0.24%, which was triple the legal limit of 0.08%.

After the Alcotest was completed, Patrolman French transported Kelly back to the Montville Township Police Department for further processing. At their station, Kelly was photographed and the officers completed their paperwork. After the officers were finished with processing her, she was released to her sister pending her court appearance after she signed the Potential Liability Warning form on Kelly’s behalf.

Patrolman French issued Kelly the following traffic citations:

-Operating under the influence

-Careless driving

Kelly was later arrested for another DWI in Hanover Township, New Jersey on March 3, 2023. Court records indicate that Kelly has previously been arrested for DWI in Mansfield Township, New Jersey after leaving the scene of an accident on April 14, 2019. Prior to that arrest, Kelly had been arrested for DWIs in Rockaway Township, New Jersey on March 29, 2019 and March 27, 2019. Prior to those 2 arrests, she had also been arrested for DWI in Hanover Township, New Jersey on March 1, 2010.

Court records indicate that on November 28, 2023, Kelly pleaded guilty to operating under the influence. As a result of her guilty plea, Kelly had to use an ignition interlock device for 24 months, spend 48 hours at an intoxicated driver resource center, and pay a total of $1,390 in fines. The citation for careless driving was dismissed. Kelly was also sentenced to 180 days in jail.

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