Drunk Mom Driving to Pick Up her Son Arrested for DWI

Around 6:15 PM on December 3, 2025, Patrolman Christopher Gilmore with the Little Silver Police Department observed a white 2023 Jeep being driven in an erratic manner. The vehicle nearly struck the mirror on his patrol car. He began pursuing the vehicle and activated his emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop. The driver pulled over on Branch Avenue in the vicinity of Silverton Avenue. He exited his patrol car and made contact with the driver, who was identified as Danielle Lembo.

Danielle told Patrolman Gilmore that she was coming from the Locale restaurant in Little Silver, and that she was headed to pick up her son in Tinton Falls, NJ. As he was speaking with Danielle, Patrolman Gilmore eventually detected the odor of alcohol and observed other indicators of impairment. Based on his suspicion of impairment, Danielle was asked to exit the vehicle and perform field sobriety exercises after Sergeant Scott Lorenson arrived on scene to assist.

The first exercise was the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test. During the HGN test, Sergeant Lorenson observed 6/6 indicators of impairment. The second exercise was the Walk and Turn test. During the Walk and Turn test, Danielle failed to touch heel-to-toe on each step and turned improperly. The final exercise was the One Leg Stand test, and Danielle 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 consuming alcohol earlier that evening, and her inability to satisfactorily complete the field sobriety exercises, Danielle was placed under arrest for DWI. Her vehicle was impounded for a 12-hour hold according to John’s Law. Patrolman Gilmore transported Danielle to the Little Silver Police Department for further processing.

At the station, the Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators was read to her, and she eventually agreed to submit breath samples. However, she refused to provide adequate breath samples despite 5 separate attempts, so she was charged with a refusal. After they finished processing Danielle, she was released to Elizabeth Lieberman pending her court appearance after she signed the Potential Liability Warning on Danielle’s behalf.

Patrolman Gilmore issued Danielle the following traffic tickets:

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

-Reckless driving (39:4-96)

-Careless driving (39:4-97)

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