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Harrison High School may be hiring another football coach after their most recent appointment, Thomas Ferriero, 50, was arrested. According to police, Ferriero was behind the wheel of a town-owned van that he was not authorized to drive, when he struck a pair of parked cars.

He proceeded to make a U-turn across Hamilton Street and then veered left onto Kingsland Avenue, where he struck a third parked car, in front of the high school where he was scheduled to begin working August 15. Then he crossed over the roadway and hit a fourth, and final, parked car.

Police arriving on the scene found Ferriero slurring and unsteady. He told them he’d had three beers, although his blood alcohol level later tested at .11%, well over the state’s .08% threshold. He faces multiple charges, including DWI, DWI in a school zone, reckless driving, driving on a suspended license, failure to show a license, and leaving the scene of an accident, with additional charges expected.

Needless to say, his legal situation appears dire, but that’s not the worst of it for Ferriero. He’s been suspended without pay after the DWI charges while the Harrison Board of Education considers its options, which may include termination.

Teachers, coaches, and others in the public sector are held to a different standard, rightly or wrongly. Employers like a public school have to consider the reputation of their personnel as they weigh who will best function as role models for the children they educate, and a very public DWI on school property is a quick way to find yourself not only facing significant legal penalties, but also searching for a new career after driving drunk in NJ.

There are defenses in every DWI case, and working with a solid lawyer can go a long way towards getting the best outcome, even in a difficult case. Matthew Reisig has helped more than 1,040 New Jersey drivers avoid conviction on DWI and related charges. Call 732-625-9660 today for a free consultation with an experienced New Jersey DWI defense lawyer.

A 20-year-old Sparta, New Jersey, driver has been charged with several violations, including DWI, after a two-car crash on Tall Oaks Road in Sparta. Shawn P. Monroe was driving overnight on July 30 when his vehicle struck another car. Officers responded and determined that Monroe showed signs of drug or alcohol intoxication. Field sobriety tests were performed, which Monroe allegedly failed, and he was taken into custody by police.

While in transit to the police station, Monroe reportedly became unresponsive, and was instead taken to Newton Medical Center, where he received treatment. He’s been charged with DWI, careless driving, and unclear license plates. As a driver charged with drunk driving under the age of 21, the long-term impact of a DWI can be especially painful, since insurers are not required to cover a driver with a history of drunk driving, and they can be especially punitive to young drivers. Luckily, in this case, the driver of the other vehicle wasn’t injured, and Monroe will have his day in court in the future.

If you or a loved one have been charged in an underage DWI case in New Jersey, you deserve the best representation available. Call Matthew Reisig today at 732-625-9660 for a free consultation with an experienced New Jersey DWI defense lawyer.

A Trenton, New Jersey, driver recently demonstrated how easy it is for a drunk driving traffic incident and DWI charges to turn into a laundry list of criminal charges. Last November, Robert Brandbergh, 49, sped through a traffic light on Route 29, striking a black Hyundai. The driver of that vehicle was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries, but Brandbergh didn’t stop. A witness pursued his vehicle and helped the police locate him after he fled the scene, still moving through traffic, near Route 1 and Perry Street.

Police tried to stop Brandbergh at that point, which the driver, swerving wildly and even hitting a guardrail, either ignored or was unaware of. He eventually tried to park his car on Plum Street, where police moved in and arrested him. The list of charges is lengthy – leaving the scene of an accident, DWI, failure to report an accident, failure to observe a signal, and two counts of reckless driving and careless driving.

It’s plain to see how one bad decision can cascade into a litany of problems, many with potentially serious legal consequences.

When you’re dealing with a DWI charge, or any of the many charges that can stem from a DWI incident, you need capable legal help right away. Matthew Reisig has helped more than 1,040 New Jersey drivers avoid conviction on DWI charges. Call 732-625-9660 today for a free consultation with an experienced New Jersey DWI defense lawyer.

A West Milford driver’s DWI stop provides a clear picture of one of the most common types of evidence in a DWI case. According to Mount Olive police, Paul Bachmann, 41, was seen driving erratically overnight on July 17 while proceeding on Route 46. Police pulled his black Honda over after he failed to maintain his lane.

During the stop, the arresting officer noted that he could detect the odor of an alcoholic beverage and observed that Bachmann appeared to be impaired. He was charged with DWI, reckless driving, failure to maintain a lane, and failure to exhibit an insurance card.

You can bet that if this case goes to court, the arresting officer will be on hand to testify that he witnessed evidence of the driver’s impairment, and could clearly smell the odor of alcohol. This is standard testimony in DWI cases in New Jersey, and fighting back against the assertions of a trained police officer can be an uphill climb. Still, every case has defenses, and every piece of evidence in a NJ DWI case can be challenged with the right legal help.

Don’t take for granted that your case is a done deal, regardless of the circumstances. Matthew Reisig has helped more than 1,040 New Jersey drivers avoid conviction on DWI charges. Call 732-625-9660 for a free consultation with an experienced DWI defense lawyer today.