NHTSA urges the auto industry to continue research on in-vehicle systems Washington – David Strickland, the head of NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), has urged major automakers to continue research on developing in-vehicle systems that will prevent drunk driving. The NHSTA Chief hopes that advances in technology will help bring an end to drunken driving. He wrote to CEOs of major players in the auto industry on 8 August, 2013, telling then to keep backing research on in-vehicle systems that will prevent drunken drivers from starting a car. He also thanked those who are already helping fund the project and…Read More
DUI checkpoints are planned in Abington and along Buxmont border by the police over the weekend. Sobriety checkpoints in Abington will be conducted by the Eastern Montgomery County DUI Task Force whereas the Montgomery Township Regional DUI Enforcement Team will be conducting DUI checkpoints along Buxmont border on routes 309, 202, 463, 63, 313, 113, 611. According to police reports, DUI checkpoints will also be conducted on Upper State and County Line roads over the weekend. Officers from Abington, Cheltenham, Lower Moreland, Upper Moreland, Upper Dublin and Whitemarsh townships form the Eastern Montgomery County DUI Task Force, whereas officers from…Read More
NEWTON – According to officials, 39-year-old Michael Fertitta injured his family off-roading on a ski slope at the Mountain Creek ski resort while he was driving drunk. The accident happened on 4th of May at about 4:30 p.m. A few weeks ago, Fertitta and his wife, 43-year-old Kelly, were charged with second-degree endangering the welfare of their child in connection with the accident. Fertitta was charged with assault with a vehicle also and additional charges were expected to be filed against him. Now, police charged Fertitta with DUI. Fertitta has pleaded not guilty and is suspended with pay from the Passaic…Read More
According to the attorney general, the drunk-driving tester known as Alcotest that had replaced the Breathalyzer in New Jersey about 5 years ago will soon be discarded and will not be used for testing the BAC level of a drunk driver. He said in court papers that the reason for retiring of Alcotest machine is that the machine’s manufacturer, Draeger Safety Diagnostics of Irving, Texas, will warranty it for only 3 more years. By 2016, a replacement technology will have to be introduced and set up in place. Till 2016, the state wants the Supreme Court to relax the controls…Read More
Although you may never think you will ever seriously break the law or get caught up in a criminal investigation, it is important that you are prepared for any situation regarding your rights and freedom. By knowing how to properly respond to law enforcement officers as well as knowing what you should or should not do in a number of situations, you can avoid potentially serious and life-altering consequences. One of the most important things you can do to protect your rights during a criminal case is to have a skilled and experienced criminal defense lawyer on your side to…Read More
Drunk-driving, speeding, and other dangerous driving behaviors, can be costly to other motorists. However, they are especially dangerous to pedestrians. Statistics show that there are at least 70, 000 pedestrian accidents in the US annually; about 4, 500 of these accidents end in death, while the rest result in substantial injuries. Equipped with nothing to protect their bodies from impact, victims of pedestrian accidents are always exposed to much greater danger than most other car accident victims. The usual victims of pedestrian accidents are children, older adults, and alcohol-impaired pedestrians. Sadly, many victims are left with all the consequences of the accident,…Read More
Not one of my clients has told me that getting a DWI/DUI won’t really make a difference in his or her life. In other words, having a DWI or DUI conviction on your record always matters. From the jail-time to the license suspension to the huge financial penalties, there is at least one consequence for a DUI conviction that is going to strike a chord with someone. That is why it is absolutely necessary to have every weapon in a DUI defense arsenal available in order to attack a prosecutor’s case. Expert witnesses are very often the best weapons to…Read More
Maybe you’re a college student heading back from a party with some friends and you’ve had a few too many drinks. Or you’re a parent who’s just come from a Fourth of July party where you had a couple of beers. It was all in good fun, and you don’t feel drunk, but when the cop makes you take a breath test, you’re just over the legal limit of .08 BAC – You know what that means: a DUI Charge. It’s embarrassing and frustrating, but probably most of all, it’s scary. Will your driver’s license be taken away? Your car?…Read More
The question is often asked of me whether chewing tobacco can affect DUI breath testing results. Personally, I have run experiments on a number of DUI breath testing devices, such as the Intoxylizer 8000, Breathalyzer 900 and Alcotest 7110, with varying results. Scientifically, one recent study has shown that Philadelphia’s breath testing device will register false readings, under certain circumstances, when chewing tobacco is present in a person’s mouth. Science and Justice Magazine published a 2012 study, done by the Albuquerque Police Department Criminalistics Laboratory, that involved “dosed” chewing tobacco and the Intoxilyzer 8000. This breath testing device is the…Read More
Recently, I had the pleasure of representing a seasonal police officer who worked for one of the New Jersey shore towns. He was a very nice guy with a concerned family in his corner and a spotless record. For the purposes of this article, he will be referred to as “Tom.” When Tom initially contacted me, he was extremely upset and fearful of losing his license and career as a police officer, because he had been accused of a DWI. On its face, the case seemed like a bad one. Tom had driven his truck over a curb and into…Read More