The role of mayor in Sparta Township is mostly ceremonial, so much so that the people of Sparta don’t even elect their mayor. The town council, a five-member body, elects one of its own each year to fill the role, signing documents for the council and representing Sparta at public events. Each January, they rotate the job to another member.

It’s all pretty ordinary and mundane, at least until this year. Shortly after the council elected Councilman Jerard J. Murphy mayor on January 7, Murphy announced that he had a court date later this month stemming from a lawsuit he’s filed against Sparta.

Murphy was allegedly pulled over in February 2016 and charged with drunk driving. In January 2018, he pleaded guilty to a reduced dirty license plate violation and paid a $100 fine. In the meantime, Murphy, a councilman since 2013, learned that he was intentionally targeted by police.

He sued, alleging that the department was retaliating for actions he took as a councilman. The case would later be thrown out by a judge, but Murphy’s lawyers are fighting to bring it back to life. The vote to elect Murphy mayor was 3-2. When news of the ongoing litigation against Sparta broke, the councilors who voted with him were quick to share that they were unaware of it at the time.

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A Jersey City man had a bad trip through Connecticut when Westport police found him asleep behind the wheel at a green light on January 31. The incident took place around 3:30 a.m., when a police car came upon a stopped vehicle on the westbound lane of Post Road East. The driver, who the department identified as Joseph Mayes, was asleep with his foot on the brake.

It took several tries, but police were able to wake Mayes up. He appeared confused by instructions to park the vehicle, and instead continued on Post Road East. Police were eventually able to get him to pull over into a parking lot, where he failed a series of field sobriety tests. He’s been charged with DUI and disobeying the signal of an officer. He was released after posting a $500 bond.

The problem with out-of-state DUI charges is that if you’re convicted, the consequences can follow you home. Protect yourself and your driving privileges. Call Matthew Reisig today at 732-625-9660 for a free consultation with an experienced New Jersey DWI defense lawyer.

Sports fans are an emotional bunch, especially when their favorite team loses. Apparently the Jets’ loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 10 (2018) was enough to send one New Jersey fan over the edge. About an hour after the 41-10 rout ended, West Milford resident Christopher Greyshock, 57, rear-ended another vehicle at Alps Road and Route 23.

When police arrived on the scene, they quickly determined that Greyshock was likely intoxicated. Later investigation found that he had an open container in his car, along with marijuana and rolling papers.

As he failed field sobriety tests, an officer asked him why he’d gotten behind the wheel in his condition. “The Jets suck,” was his memorable response. At police headquarters, his blood alcohol level was determined to be 0.13, well over the state’s .08% legal limit for driving. He’s been charged with DWI, possession, reckless driving, and having an open container in his vehicle, reportedly a fifth of bourbon.

Whatever your reason for driving drunk, a DWI charge is a big deal. Get the help you need to protect your rights and minimize your exposure to serious penalties by working with an experienced New Jersey DWI defense lawyer. Call Matthew Reisig today at 732-378-9272 for a free consultation.