Drunk Girl With a Gold Card Arrested for DWI After Falling Asleep in the Middle of the Road

On June 13, 2025 around 12:05 AM, Officer Nicole Kaneshige with the Peapack & Gladstone Police Department approached the intersection of Route 206 South and Old Dutch Road East to investigate a vehicle that was blocking the intersection. This was based on her observations from when she had conducted an unrelated traffic stop nearby around 11:53 PM on June 12th. She went closer towards the vehicle, and noticed that a red 2024 Mazda CX5 was parked perpendicular to a stop sign on Old Dutch Road West.

While the vehicle initially seemed unoccupied, a closer inspection revealed that the driver was unconscious. She immediately notified dispatch and asked them to notify the Bedminster Township Police Department since this was within their boundaries. After repeatedly banging the on the window, the driver was eventually awakened and proceeded to roll down her window. Officer Kaneshige immediately detected the odor of alcohol and observed multiple open containers inside the vehicle. The driver was later identified as 23-year-old Celia Peri, and she told the officer that she was coming from a work event in Jersey City. However, she denied consuming any alcohol earlier that evening.

Sergeant Jeffrey Veltri and Officer Liam McCann with the Bedminster Township Police Department arrived on scene shortly afterwards. Once they were on scene, they realized that it was not an emergency and the ambulance was canceled. Celia provided the officer with her PBA Gold Card, which indicated that she had a relative in law enforcement. Officer Kaneshige told Celia that she did not need that card.

Detective Adam Caruso also arrived on scene and Officer Kaneshige returned to her patrol car to rune Celia’s information. Since she was displaying signs of impairment, Celia was asked to exit the vehicle and perform field sobriety exercises.

Officer Kaneshige started with the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test. During the HGN test, Officer Kaneshige 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, Celia failed to touch heel-to-toe on each step, turned improperly, and took an incorrect number of steps in each direction. The final exercise was the One Leg Stand test. During the One Leg Stand test, Celia failed to raise her foot in the proper fashion and put her foot down before the test was complete.

Based on her indicators of impairment, the odor of alcohol, the open containers inside her vehicle, and her inability to adequately perform the field sobriety exercises adequately, Celia was placed under arrest for operating under the influence. Her vehicle was impounded by Mike’s Towing for a mandatory 12-hour hold under John’s Law.

Officer Kaneshige transported her to the Peapack & Gladstone Police Department for further processing. The Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators was read to her at the station and she agreed to submit breath samples. Her Alcotest results indicated a BAC level of 0.17%, which was more than double the legal limit of 0.08%. Celia was eventually released to a sober adult pending her court appearance after they signed the Potential Liability Warning form on Celia’s behalf.

Officer Kaneshige issued her the following citations:

-Operating under the influence (39:4-50)

-Reckless driving (39:4-96)

-Careless driving (39:4-97)

-Open container (39:4-51B)

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