Every year at this time, we at the Edward M. Janzekovich law blog like to wish all of our readers a safe and Happy New Year. At the same time, we also would like to remind everyone that New Year’s Eve is one of the most dangerous nights of the year for drunk driving and DUI/DWI arrests. If you can, avoid the roads – especially if you’ve had even one drink. In New Jersey, law enforcement officials across the state will be on high alert for the slightest signs of drunk driving or suspicious, erratic behavior.
In fact, for the entire month of December 2018, police officers across the state will be stepping up their efforts to curb drunk driving during the annual “Drive Sober of Get Pulled Over” campaign during the holidays. This year, 161 New Jersey police departments in 21 counties have received special funding to increase overtime for patrol officers looking to pull over. If you or someone you know is thinking about drinking and driving on New Year’s Eve, there is a good chance that you will get caught.
161 New Jersey Towns and Police Departments with Increased Holiday OT Patrols
This year, the state Division of Highway and Traffic Safety handed out over $775,500 to towns and law enforcement agencies to spend on increased overtime for police staff. This represents an increase from last year, when 128 departments received the grant. Last year, an additional 200 departments participated at their own expense, and it is likely that a similar number will participate this year.
During this time, police departments aim to increase visibility and enforcement. Departments across the start will attempt to prevent drunk driving in the first place by using sobriety checkpoints and having more patrol cars on the roads in visible areas.
The following municipalities and departments will be participating:
Atlantic County
- Atlantic City
- Egg Harbor Twp
- Galloway PD
- Mullica PD
- Bergen County
- Bogota PD
- Cliffside Park PD
- Edgewater PD
- Emerson PD
- Fort Lee PD
- Garfield PD
- Lodi PD
- Mahwah PD
- New Milford PD
- Old Tappan PD
- Ramsey PD
- Ridgewood PD
- Wyckoff PD
Burlington County
- Bordentown PD
- Bordentown Twp PD
- Burlington PD
- Cinnaminson PD
- Delanco PD
- Delran PD
- Lumberton PD
- New Hanover PD
- Riverside PD.00
Camden County
- Barrington PD
- Camden County Metro
- Gloucester Twp PD
- Haddonfield PD
- Lindenwold PD
- Pine Hill PD
- Stratford PD
- Winslow PD
- Cape May County
- Middle PD
Cumberland County
- Millville PD
- Essex County
- Belleville PD
- Bloomfield PD
- Cedar Grove PD
- Essex County Sheriff
- Montclair PD
- West Caldwell PD
- West Orange PD
Gloucester County
- Clayton PD
- Deptford PD
- East Greenwich PD
- Franklin PD
- Glassboro PD
- Greenwich PD
- Harrison PD
- Mantua PD
- Monroe PD
- Pitman PD
- Rowan University PD
- Washington PD
- Westville PD
- Woodbury Heights PD
- Woodbury PD
- Woolwich PD
Hudson County
- Bayonne PD
- Harrison PD
- Hoboken PD
- Hudson County Sheriff
- Kearny PD
- North Bergen Twp PD
- Union City PD
- West New York PD
Hunterdon County
- Clinton PD
- Clinton Twp PD.
- Flemington PD
- Frenchtown PD
- Lebanon PD
- Raritan PD
- Readington PD
- West Amwell PD
Mercer County
- East Windsor PD
- Ewing PD
- Hamilton PD
- Hightstown PD
- New Jersey State Park Police
- Robbinsville PD
- West Windsor PD
Middlesex County
- Dunellen PD
- Edison PD
- Middlesex PD
- North Brunswick PD
- Plainsboro PD
- South Brunswick PD
- Spotswood PD
Monmouth County
- Aberdeen PD
- Allentown PD
- Asbury Park PD
- Deal PD
- Eatontown PD
- Freehold Twp PD
- Holmdel PD
- Marlboro PD
- Middletown PD
- Monmouth Beach PD
- Ocean PD
- Spring Lake Heights PD
Morris County
- Boonton Township PD
- Chester Twp PD
- Denville PD
- Dover PD
- Hanover PD
- Jefferson PD
- Montville PD
- Morris County Park Police
- Morris Twp PD
- Mount Olive PD
- Parsippany-Troy Hills PD
- Randolph PD
- Roxbury PD
Ocean County
- Barnegat PD
- Bay Head PD
- Berkeley PD
- Jackson PD
- Lakehurst PD
- Manchester PD
- Ocean Gate PD
- Point Pleasant Beach PD
- Point Pleasant PD
Passaic County
- Bloomingdale PD
- Little Falls PD
- Passaic PD
- Wanaque PD
- Wayne PD
Salem County
- Penns Grove PD
Somerset County
- Bedminster PD
- Bernards PD
- Bernardsville PD
- Bound Brook PD
- Branchburg PD
- Bridgewater PD
- Far Hills PD
- Franklin PD
- Green Brook PD
- Hillsborough PD
- Manville PD
- Montgomery PD
- North Plainfield PD
- Peapack Gladstone PD
- Raritan PD
- Somerset County Sheriff
- Somerville PD
- South Bound Brook PD
- Warren PD
- Watchung PD
Sussex County
- Hopatcong PD
- Sparta PD
- Vernon PD
Union County
- Berkeley Heights PD
- Clark PD
- Elizabeth PD
- Linden PD
- Plainfield PD
- Rahway PD
- Roselle Park PD
- Union PD.00
Warren County
- Independence PD
What Police Officers Are Looking For
In order to prevent drunk driving accidents and improve safety, NJ Cops will be performing random stops of vehicles at police checkpoints, looking for signs of inebriation and impairment. Checkpoints are a reminder that drivers should not be behind the wheel after drinking. If you see a checkpoint ahead, you are permitted to pull over or turn around before reaching the checkpoint. Police officers would rather drivers call a taxi or Uber than be caught driving drunk.
Additionally, police officers will be pull over any suspicious vehicles. Law enforcement officials are trained to look for cars driving aggressively, speeding, swerving, or driving without headlights. If a vehicle is pulled over for one of these reasons, it will be considered a legal stop, and it could lead to a DUI or DWI if the driver is found drunk.
For all these reasons, we at the Edward M. Janzekovich law blog urge all of our readers to avoid drinking and driving and to celebrate the end of 2018 and the beginning of 2019 safely. Happy New Year!
New Jersey DUI/DWI Attorney Edward M. Janzekovich Is There for You at the End of this Year and Into the Next
If you or someone you know is pulled over or arrested for drunk driving during the holidays, you can expect that New Jersey state and county prosecutors will prosecute the case aggressively. A good lawyer who knows the ins-and-outs of DUI and DWI law can be the best defense. Having an experienced drunk driving lawyer can make all the difference. To speak with an experienced New Jersey DWI/DUI lawyer about your situation, call us at 732-257-1137 or contact us online today. We serve clients throughout the state of New Jersey.