The Roselle Park Police Department took part in the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over: 2011 Year End Statewide Crackdown” and arrested 15 motorists for driving while intoxicated. The nationwide campaign, which began on December 5th of last year, ran through January 2nd.
The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign is operated by the Division of Highway Traffic Safety. The enforcement campaign focuses on increased police patrols during the busiest travel and holiday seasons.
During the month-long crackdown, the Roselle Park Police Department (RPPD) increased roving patrols to focus on impaired driving. In addition to the 15 DWI arrests, RPPD officers made 18 drug arrests and 15 warrant/fugitive arrests. During the month of December, RPPD officers issued over 750 motor vehicle summonses.
In 2011, members of the RPPD arrested 101 motorists for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI). Most of these impaired motorists were apprehended by police officers on routine patrol, but several were taken into custody during DWI checkpoints as well as roving DWI patrols.
In combating impaired driving, RPPD officer Patrolman Joshua Medrano holds the position of Drug Recognition Expert (DRE). A DRE (link) is an officer who has been trained to use a standardize 12-step evaluation process that allows the officer to determine whether the suspect is under the influence of drugs and to determine the category of drug that is causing the observable impairment. The 12 steps include:
- Breath Alcohol Test
- Interview of Arresting Officer
- Preliminary Examination
- Eye Examination
- Divided Attention Tests
- Examination of Vital Signs
- Dark Room Examinations
- Examination of Muscle Tone
- Examination of Injection Sites
- Suspects Statements / Other Observations
- Opinion of the Evaluator
- Toxicological Examination
Officer Medrano, a five- year veteran, is only one of a few Drug Recognition Experts in Union County.