Drunk Woman Speeds Like Crazy and Gets Arrested for DWI

Around 1:09 AM on May 5, 2025, Patrolman Jonathan DelaPrida with the Roselle Park Police Department was on patrol at 556 West Westfield Avenue. He observed a white 2017 Audi Q3 speeding excessively in a 35 MPH zone while headed eastbound. He followed the vehicle and eventually initiated a traffic stop on Westfield Avenue West near Locust Street. He exited his patrol car and made contact with the driver, who was identified as Ritha Zambrano-Pinargot.

As he was speaking with Ritha, he detected the odor of alcohol and observed other indicators of impairment. Ritha told the officer that she was coming from Cranford and that she was headed home to Elizabeth. Based on his suspicion of impairment, Ritha was eventually asked to exit the vehicle and perform field sobriety exercises after Corporal Valente and Patrolman Centeno arrived on scene to assist.

Patrolman Centeno started with the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test. The second exercise was the Walk and Turn test, and it was administered by Patrolman DelaPrida. During the Walk and Turn test, Ritha failed to touch heel-to-toe on each step and did not count in the correct sequence. The final exercise was the One Leg Stand test. During the One Leg Stand test, Ritha failed to raise her foot in the proper fashion.

Ritha’s poor performance on the field sobriety exercises confirmed the officers’ suspicion of impairment. Based on her excessive speed, the odor of alcohol, and her inability to satisfactorily complete the field sobriety exercises, Patrolman DelaPrida placed Ritha under arrest for driving under the influence. Her vehicle was impounded for a mandatory 12-hour hold under John’s Law. Ritha was initially transported to the Roselle Park Police Department (RUPD) for the administration of the breath test.

At the Roselle Park Police Department, Ritha was read the Standard Statement for Motor Vehicle Operators, and she agreed to submit breath samples. However, the Alcotest machine was not working in Roselle Park so she had to be transported to the Elizabeth Police Department for the administration of the breath test. She submitted her 2 breath samples at the Elizabeth Police Department at 3:18 AM and 3:20 PM, respectively. Her breath test results indicated a BAC level of 0.12%, which was above the legal limit of 0.08%.

After the breath test was finished, Ritha was then transported back to the Roselle Park Police Department for further processing. She was eventually released to her boyfriend Ronald Lacey pending her court appearance after he signed the Potential Liability Warning form on Ritha’s behalf.

Patrolman DelaPrida issued Ritha the following traffic citations:

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

-Reckless driving (39:4-96)

-Careless driving (39:4-97)

-Speeding (39:4-98)

On September 5, 2025, Ritha was found guilty of operating under the influence, while the other 3 citations were dismissed as part of a plea agreement. As a result of her guilty plea, Ritha had to use an ignition interlock device for 3 months and spend 12 hours at an intoxicated driver resource center. Ritha also had to pay a total of $790 in fines.

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