Cop's Sister Arrested for DWI After Speeding Recklessly

Around 9:56 PM on October 11, 2023, Patrolman Matthew Carley with the Palisades Park Police Department was clearing from a call for service at Broad Avenue and East Columbia Avenue. As he was walking to his patrol car, he observed a grey 2018 Toyota Rav4 driving southbound on Broad Avenue at a very high rate of speed. He immediately got in his patrol car and had to drive at about 70 MPH in a 25 MPH zone in order to catch up to the vehicle. He eventually initiate a traffic stop in the vicinity of Broad Avenue and Grand Avenue in the neighboring town of Ridgefield.

He exited his patrol car and made contact with the driver, who was identified as Nicole Vasquez. She initially claimed that she was coming from Edgewater and that they were in Englewood, and that she did not have much to drink that night. As he was speaking with Nicole, he detected the odor of alcohol and observed other indicators of impairment. After Captain John Gasparovich arrived on scene, Nicole was asked to exit the vehicle and perform field sobriety exercises.

Captain Gasparovich started with the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test. During the HGN test, he observed the lack of smooth pursuit, distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation, and the onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees. The second field sobriety exercise was the Walk and Turn test. During the Walk and Turn test, Nicole failed to touch heel-to-toe on each step, turned improperly, and took an incorrect number of steps. The final exercise was the One Leg Stand test. During the One Leg Stand test, Nicole 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, and her inability to adequately perform the field sobriety exercises, Nicole was placed under arrest for DWI. Her vehicle was impounded for a 12-hour hold according to John’s Law. Nicole was transported to the Palisades Park Police Department for further processing.

At the station, the Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators was read to her, but she refused to submit breath samples. Nicole then waived her Miranda rights and admitted to consuming wine at Aumm Aumm Pizzeria in Englewood earlier that evening. Nicole was eventually released pending her court appearance.

Nicole was issued the following citations:

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

-Refusal to submit to chemical test (39:4-50.4A)

-Consent to take samples of breath (39:4-50.2)

-Careless driving (39:4-97)

Court records indicate that on May 9, 2024, Nicole was found guilty of operating under the influence while the careless driving citation was downgraded to unsafe operation (39:4-97.2). As a result of her convictions, Nicole had to spend 12 hours at an intoxicated driver resource center, use an ignition interlock device for 3 months, and pay a total of $1,180 in fines. The other 2 citations were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

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