Professor Arrested for DWI in Princeton

On October 25, 2025 around 1:59 AM, Patrolwoman Nia Toombs with the Princeton Police Department observed a tan 2015 Subaru with a flat tire being driven erratically. Another officer eventually activated his emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop, and the driver did not immediately pull over. However, she eventually pulled over in the vicinity of Witherspoon Street and Wiggins Street. Patrolman Toombs exited the patrol car and made contact with the driver, who was identified as Judith Surkis.

As she was speaking with Judith, she detected the odor of alcohol and noticed other signs of impairment. Judith told her that she was coming from the Princeton Junction train station, and that she was headed home. She also told her that she was a Professor and that she was coming back from a fellowship in New York City, and she admitted to drinking wine at a social gathering earlier that evening. Based on her suspicion of impairment, she asked Judith to recite the alphabet from “B” to “S” and then count backwards from 74 to 59. She was unable to follow these instructions properly, and she was eventually asked to exit the vehicle and perform field sobriety exercises.

Another officer initially administered the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test. The second exercise was the Walk and Turn test. During the Walk and Turn test, Judith did not touch heel-to-toe on each step and turned improperly. The final exercise was the One Leg Stand test, and Judith failed to raise her foot in the proper fashion while displaying a lack of balance.

Based on her erratic driving, the odor of alcohol, her admission to drinking wine earlier that evening, and her inability to adequately perform the field sobriety exercises, Judith was placed under arrest for driving while intoxicated. Judith was transported to the Princeton Police Department for further processing. Her vehicle 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 agreed to submit breath samples. After she was processed, Judith was released to a sober adult pending her court appearance after they signed the Potential Liability Warning form on Judith’s behalf.

Patrolwoman Toombs issued her the following summonses:

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

-Reckless driving (39:4-96)

-Careless driving (39:4-97)

-Vehicle in unsafe condition (39:3-44)

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