In coordination with the Thanksgiving holiday, authorities in Monmouth County have announced a slew of DWI checkpoints, including one that will be conducted on Thanksgiving Eve on Route 9 in Howell.
Brielle Police Chief Michael Palmer, the coordinator of the Monmouth County DWI Task Force, announced the Howell DWI checkpoint that will be in effect from 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 25th (Thanksgiving Eve) to 3:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 26th (Thanksgiving Day). The checkpoint will be set up on the northbound side of Route 9 in Howell, where drivers will be stopped and subject to evaluation in the Regal Plaza.
Other DWI checkpoints will also be set up throughout Monmouth County during the holiday festivities, all of which are bound by the same requirements outlined in New Jersey State Law. The case that set the precedent for DWI checkpoint validity was decided in 1991, specifically, in State v. Moskal. According to this landmark decision, a DWI checkpoint in New Jersey must abide by the following in order to be considered:
- The location of the checkpoint is appropriate based on historical arrest rates at the location
- Public safety and awareness would be fostered by the checkpoint
- The appropriate divisions of law enforcement participate in command and supervision of the checkpoint; and
- Information regarding the checkpoint is published to provide motorists with notice
When these criteria are met, charges arising from DWI checkpoints can expose drivers to a myriad of serious consequences, including a period of driver’s license suspension, significant fines, and even jail time. If you are issued DWI charges as a result of a DWI checkpoint or another motor vehicle stop in Monmouth County, contact our offices anytime to discuss the options that may be available to you.
For additional information regarding DWI checkpoints in New Jersey, view our article: “DUI/DWI Checkpoint: Was It Legal? Was It Marked?”
For additional information related to the aforementioned sobriety checkpoint, access the following: DWI checkpoint in Howell Thanksgiving Eve