A couple of weeks ago, a drunk driver had a heck of an excuse for a Morris Township police officer. Just after 3:00 AM on April 27, Damion Prashad was driving a blue 2013 Volkswagen and failed to observe a traffic signal. When the officer approached the vehicle, Mr. Prashad claimed he only spoke French and did not understand English. However, a French-speaking officer arrived on the scene and quickly deduced that Mr. Prashad was not being entirely truthful about his Francophone status.
Mr. Prashad was arrested and taken to the Morris Township Police Department, where he failed a Breathalyzer test.
A host of charges followed, including driving while intoxicated (DWI), reckless driving, and hindering apprehension.
In New Jersey, the penalties for a DWI conviction are incredibly strict. In many cases, the penalties are mandatory. DWI offenses are codified under N.J.S.A. 39:4-50, and a conviction for first offense DWI can lead to a sentence of up to 30 days in jail.
Hindering apprehension is codified under N.J.S.A. 2C:29-3, which prohibits a person from knowingly giving to law enforcement false information. In this instance, Mr. Prashad’s hindering will probably be classified as a disorderly persons offense, punishable by up to six (6) months in county jail.
For more information, see the NJ.com article entitled “Drunken Driver Told Police He Only Spoke French, Morris Township Cops Say.”