DWI & Refusal Charges Issued in the City of Trenton
A twenty-nine year old female from the City of Trenton was arrested and charged with driving under the influence following in an incident near North Clinton Avenue.
The police were first called to North Clinton Avenue and Oak Street in response to a report of a motor vehicle accident involving a pedestrian. When the officers arrived on scene they found the Defendant located inside her vehicle. When confronted, the officers claim that the Defendant’s “breath reeked of alcohol”. Based on their observations the Defendant was put through the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST). These are the initial test officers use to determine whether or not there is probable cause to arrest someone for driving while intoxicated. According to the information released at this point, the Defendant performed poorly on the sobriety tests and as a result she was placed under arrest for suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Once back at the station the Defendant refused to submit to the breath sample and she was then charged with refusal to submit to a breath sample and driving while intoxicated. Furthermore, it does appear that initial reports of a pedestrian being struck were untrue and the Defendant actually struck another vehicle. The Defendant was released pursuant to John’s Law with a series of summons to appear in the City of Trenton Municipal Court.
Charged with a DUI in the City of Trenton?
Since DWI’s are considered traffic offenses in New Jersey, the City of Trenton Municipal Court will have original jurisdiction over all DWI offenses that occur within the City. However, if a Defendant was to be charged a more serious offense like assault by auto or eluding then the charges would be transferred to the Mercer County Superior Court for disposition as the Trenton Municipal Court would not have jurisdiction over indictable (felony) offenses. For more information on the what court has jurisdiction over certain offenses, please contact our Hamilton office at 609-789-0779.
Driving Under the Influence Charges in Trenton NJ
New Jersey takes DWI offenses very seriously. Although they are considered traffic in nature, the potential penalties can be more crippling then some criminal offenses. If you have been issued a summons for DUI or any other offense for that matter in the City of Trenton and you would like to discuss your options with one of our Mercer County criminal defense attorneys then please contact our Hamilton office directly at 609-789-0779 or leave us an email. One of our attorneys is available now for an initial free consultation.
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