Newark New Jersey DWI AttorneysTravis Tormey recently defended a client who allegedly drove while under the influence of drugs (DUI) in Clifton, New Jersey. The client was also subject to criminal charges for allegedly being under the influence of drugs. A conviction for a DUI and a disorderly persons offense would lead to severe consequences: suspension of her driver’s license for one year and a sentence of up to six months in the Passaic County Jail. In addition, the client faced the indignity of having a criminal conviction on her permanent record.

A Clifton New Jersey patrol officer stopped the client’s car after witnessing the client make an illegal U-turn. The police officer suspected that the client might be drunk, so he administered field sobriety tests. When the client allegedly failed the field sobriety tests, she was arrested and charged with a DUI. Police later administered a breath test, with the client blowing .00 percent BAC on the Alcotest machine. However, Clifton NJ police still suspected that the client was under the influence of drugs, so they took a urine sample. Police made a big mistake, however, by failing to utilize a drug recognition expert (DRE) to examine the client.

The client’s lab results eventually came back and showed that she did not have marijuana or any other illegal drugs in her system; instead, she tested positive for cough syrup and allergy medication. Without a DRE evaluation to support the prosecution’s claims, Travis J. Tormey was able to successfully challenge the DUI charges and get them dismissed. Mr. Tormey also managed to get the criminal charges dismissed. This was a fantastic result for our client and a major success for the Tormey Law Firm.