Woman Arrested for SECOND DWI After Drinking at Tommy's Tavern

On March 22, 2024 around 12:14 AM, Officer Justin Nunno with the Freehold Township Police Department observed a silver 2020 Jeep Compass that was swerving across lanes on Route 9 northbound. He activated his emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop, and the driver pulled over in the parking lot of the Mavis Discount Tire at 4011 US 9 North. He exited his patrol car and made contact with the driver of the Jeep, who was identified as Tamar Kazekjian.

Tamar told him that she was heading back home after leaving Tommy’s Tavern. As he was speaking with her, Officer Nunno detected the odor of alcohol and observed other indicators of impairment. She admitted to consuming alcohol earlier that evening, and she was asked to exit the vehicle and perform field sobriety exercises.

Officer Nunno started with the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test. During the HGN test, he observed 4/6 indicators of impairment. The second exercise was the Walk and Turn test. During the Walk and Turn test, Tamar failed to 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, Tamar 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 earlier that evening, and her inability to satisfactorily perform the field sobriety exercises, Tamar was placed under arrest for operating under the influence. She was handcuffed and placed inside the patrol car. Her vehicle was impounded by for a mandatory 12-hour hold under John’s Law.

Tamar was transported to the Freehold Township Police Department for further processing. The Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators was read to her, and she agreed to submit breath samples. Her Alcotest results indicated a BAC level of 0.055%, which was under the legal limit of 0.08% but still above 0.00%.

Tamar was issued the following citations:

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

-Reckless driving (39:4-96)

-Failure to keep right (39:4-82)

-Failure to maintain lane (39:4-88)

Court records indicate that on July 16, 2024, Tamar was found not guilty of operating under the influence in the Freehold Township Municipal Court. The other citations for reckless driving and failure to keep right were also dismissed, while she pleaded guilty to failure to maintain lane. As a result of her guilty plea, Tamar had to pay a total of $190 in fines.

Tamar has previously been arrested for DWI in Leonia, New Jersey on July 6, 2006.

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