Drunk Woman in a State of Denial Before DWI Arrest

Around 11:00 PM on April 26, 2024, officers with the Rumson Police Department were advised that a reckless driver was on Ridge Road headed towards Holy Cross Church. Patrolman James Wrightington observed a 2012 Lexus turning onto Ward Avenue from Hartshorne Lane. After he observed the vehicle pass him from the Holy Cross parking lot, he began following the vehicle on Ward Avenue and observed that the driver did not properly signal at the stop sign near the intersection of Ward Avenue and Rumson Road. The driver stopped in the middle of Ward Avenue splitting the north and south lanes before turning left onto Rumson Road eastbound. As the vehicle approached the Sea Bright Bridge, he observed the driver swerving across the double yellow line.

At this time, he activated his emergency lights and initiated a traffic stop just prior to the bridge. He made contact with the driver, who was identified as Melissa. As he was speaking with Melissa, he detected the odor of alcohol. Melissa told the officer that she was heading home. She denied consuming alcohol earlier that evening. Based on his suspicion of impairment, Melissa was asked to exit the vehicle and perform field sobriety exercises. Patrolman James Camilleri arrived on scene to assist, and Patrolman Ty Manning with the Sea Bright Police Department was also called to the scene to administer the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test.

The first field sobriety was the recitation of the alphabet, which Melissa was unable to do satisfactorily. The second exercise was the One Leg Stand test. During the One Leg Stand test, Melissa failed to raise her foot in the proper fashion and put her foot down before the test was complete. The third exercise was the Walk and Turn test. During the Walk and Turn test, Melissa did not touch heel-to-toe on each step and turned improperly. The final exercise was the HGN test, and Patrolman Manning observed indicators of impairment. After the field sobriety exercises were complete, Melissa admitted to consuming 1 drink earlier that evening.

Based on her erratic driving, the odor of alcohol, and her inability to satisfactorily complete the field sobriety exercises, Patrolman Wrightington placed Melissa under arrest for driving under the influence. Her vehicle was impounded for a 12-hour hold according to John’s Law. Patrolman Wrightington transported Melissa to the Rumson Police Department for further processing.

Melissa was read the Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators at the station, but she refused to submit breath samples. Melissa was eventually released to her boyfriend pending her court appearance after he signed the Potential Liability Warning form on Melissa’s behalf. Patrolman Wrightington issued Melissa the following citations: Operating under the influence, consent to take samples of breath, failure to give proper signal, and traffic on marked lanes

Court records indicate that on September 11, 2024, Melissa pleaded guilty to operating under the influence. As a result of her guilty plea, Melissa had to spend 12 hours at an intoxicated driver resource center, use an ignition interlock device for 3 months, and pay a total of $690 in fines. The other 3 citations were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

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