A New Jersey officer was in the midst of what would likely be classified as a routine traffic stop and drunk driving investigation when the routine was interrupted by something less common. The patrol car was hit by another vehicle that then sped away.
Last week, a 43-year-old woman was likely feeling like the bad guy as she was being investigated for suspicion of DUI. Then, someone came along who posed a more serious threat at the time. Police had to drive after the hit-and-run suspect and then found that he, too, was a drunk driving suspect.
Most people, whether they are drunk or not, tend to avoid police officers on the road. The paranoia is always there that an officer will find some minor reason to pull someone over. When a person has been drinking, he has a more urgent reason to avoid the cops, and he certainly wouldn't want to crash into a cop car.
Last week's incident plays out as a sort of "what-not-to-do" tale of behavior. The 23-year-old driver whose actions interrupted the traffic stop already in process reportedly failed sobriety tests once authorities stopped and investigated him. His driving and physical condition according to the tests have resulted in criminal charges of leaving the scene of an accident, reckless driving, DWI and more traffic offenses.
No matter how hopeless a drunk driving case might seem, a defendant deserves a fair shot at mitigating the consequences of his charges. An aggressive criminal defense attorney is crucial to that mission.
Source: NJ.com, "Drunken driver smashed into cop car during another DWI stop, Chester Township police say," Louis C. Hochman, Dec. 18, 2012