For one Valhalla, New York, man, the “NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION” label should have been a giveaway that what he was about to consume might be a bad choice before hitting the road.

Joseph Donofrio, 35, was spotted by cops in Wayne, New Jersey, as he made “extremely dangerous” lane changes on Route 23 southbound.

He was also speeding and driving recklessly when a patrol car pulled him over.

Donofrio told officers that he was going to a hospital, but police quickly found that Donofrio’s passenger, who was not identified in media accounts, was holding a bottle containing a prescription-only mood stabilizer for dogs and cats.

Donofrio admitted that he had been drinking the concoction, and as he demonstrated slurred speech and jerky hand movements, was unable to tell police how much he’d had or how long he’d been drinking his “Catnip Cocktail.”

Donofrio has been charged with DWI and inhaling toxic substances, as well as various traffic violations.

He was released to a sober adult and will face a judge soon.

If you’ve been charged with DWI in New Jersey, however weird the circumstances, an experienced New Jersey DWI defense lawyer can make a big difference for you.

Call Matthew Reisig today at 732-378-9272 for a free consultation on how he can help you build a strong defense against NJ DUI Laws.

If you’re going to be drinking, it’s important that you choose wisely when it comes to where you sleep it off.

One New Jersey driver learned the hard way that a Wawa parking lot is not a good choice.

It happened on October 26, when employees of the Wawa on Route 9 in Lacey called police to report that a woman was sleeping in a car outside.

Officers Martin Julian and Patrick Watkins arrived at the scene at 7:23 p.m. and found Jaymee Tice-Britton, 35, asleep behind the wheel in her vehicle.

Media reports say that an “investigation” occurred, which may have included a visual search of the interior of the car, field sobriety tests, and questions intended to determine whether Tice-Britton had been drinking.

Apparently, the investigation yielded results, because Tice-Britton was taken to police headquarters and now faces charges of reckless driving, DWI, and had her car impounded pursuant to John’s Law.

All in all, not a good evening for the Forked River woman.

If you’ve been charged with DWI and related charges in New Jersey, get the kind of help that can make a difference.

Matthew Reisig has helped more than 1,040 New Jersey drivers avoid conviction for DWI.

Call 732-625-9660 today for a free consultation with an experienced New Jersey DWI defense lawyer.

Penalties In New Jersey When You Receive A DUI Out Of State During Vacation

Vacations are great, but for one East Orange man, a family adventure to Florida took a wrong turn when he was pulled over for driving without his headlights overnight in mid-October.

Marion County Deputy Gary Miller pulled Joseph T. Dent over and noticed a strong odor of alcohol in the vehicle, which also contained Dent’s wife and 10-month-old child.

Dent said he hadn’t been drinking, but had taken a Xanax earlier in the evening.

Miller asked Dent to perform a series of field sobriety tests, during which Dent took an incorrect number of steps, failed to touch his finger to his nose, and recited the alphabet incorrectly.

He was taken to the Marion County Jail, while his family was taken to a local motel.

Assuming he’s convicted, what happens to Dent, and other New Jersey drivers dealing with out-of-state drunk driving charges?

Well, in most cases, penalties like a license suspension will carry over to New Jersey.

An interstate compact that most states are party to gives local authorities in the jurisdiction where you’re convicted the ability to notify New Jersey’s motor vehicle commission of a DUI conviction, and the MVC will notify you in writing that your New Jersey driver’s license is suspended.

There are sometimes options to appeal the decision, but it’s rare to succeed in such an action on your own.

An experienced lawyer can make a big difference in how the state manages a second-jurisdiction DUI conviction.

To get the help you need, call Matthew Reisig today at 732-625-9660 for a free consultation with an experienced New Jersey DWI defense lawyer.

New Jersey DUI Defense Lawyer

Following an open records request from The Trentonian newspaper, bodycam footage has emerged of an R-rated tirade from a New Jersey assemblywoman as she was arrested for DWI in April.

Assemblywoman Maria Rodriguez-Gregg, 35, who represents parts of Atlantic, Burlington, and Camden counties, was sitting at a red light in Mount Laurel the night of April 28 when another vehicle rear-ended her, prompting police to come to the scene.

While Rodriguez-Gregg was not responsible for the accident, officers claimed they smelled marijuana in her car and believed that she was intoxicated.

This didn’t sit well with the Assemblywoman. “I have don’t nothing but support the police,” she tells them on the video. “I am even one of your number one supporters politically. F—ing a–holes!”

She denied smoking marijuana, telling police that she had been smoking cigars in her car. “Are you serious right now?” she asked police. “I’m a sitting assemblywoman. Do you really think that I’m f—ing smoking marijuana at this time of night? All right, I’m calling my lawyer.”

Police threatened to charge her with obstruction if she didn’t exit the vehicle to allow a search.

When they did finally execute the search, no marijuana was found.

She refused sobriety tests on the grounds that the police were harassing her, and she was arrested and charged with DWI, reckless driving, and obstruction of justice.

Blood tests showed “some indication of alcohol,” but no signs of marijuana.

Rodriguez-Gregg has fought all charges in the intervening months, and in August, she announced that she would not seek re-election. She is the first Republican Hispanic woman ever elected to the New Jersey legislature.

Defense Against Drunk Driving Charges In New Jersey

This is a case that seems to be filled with avenues for a driver’s defense lawyer to explore, but the truth is that nearly every DWI has valid paths to a strong defense.

You can save yourself a lot of headache, and possibly a lot of consequences, by working with an experienced DWI defense lawyer when you’ve been charged.

MatthewReisig has helped more than 1,040 New Jersey drivers avoid conviction on DWI and related charges. Call 732-625-9660 today to talk to an experienced New Jersey DWI defense lawyer for free.

The person charged with DUI should ask the attorney very specific questions about their law practice. Most specifically, the person charged with DUI should ask the attorney;

1) how many DUI’s they are currently defending?;
2) when was the last time they actually won a DUI?;
3) If they have ever appeared in the municipal court where their DUI is going to be heard?; and
4) if they can speak to past clients that have previously been represented by the attorney?

These are all legitimate and reasonable questions to ask when an individual is charged with DUI. If the attorney hesitates in answering any of these valid questions, the person charged with DUI should be guided accordingly. My law firm welcomes these legitimate inquiries and will answer these questions in a willing and forthright manner. The more a person charged with DUI learns about a law firm, the easier it will be to make an informed choice of the appropriate DUI attorney to represent their legal interests.