New Jersey DWI and Hit-and Run Arrest Of Veteran Police Officer
A veteran officer in the Lower Township Police Department was charged with driving while intoxicated in New Jersey and hit-and-run after he swerved into an oncoming lane of traffic and sideswiped a Transit Bus on Townbank Road near Bayshore Road. According to an NBC news report, authorities followed scrape marks on the street into a home on Crawford Road and found a pickup truck that had heavy front-end damage. Officer Douglas Whitten was reportedly charged with DWI, leaving the scene of an accident and failure to report an accident. Whitten is apparently a 14-year veteran at his police department.
New Jersey statutes state that no person shall operate a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs. As in most states, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or higher in New Jersey. A DWI charge is serious because it could have serious consequences. If convicted, a defendant can face possible jail time, counseling, classes, suspension or revocation of driver’s license and fines. A DWI conviction can threaten your career if you work in law enforcement or any other profession where it may be considered as grounds for dismissal.
If you have been charged with a DWI in New Jersey, please contact an aggressive and experienced New Jersey drunk driving defense attorney who will fight the charges and protect your legal rights. If you are facing drunk driving charges in New Jersey, please call Lependorf & Silverstein for a free consultation and case evaluation.
