A traffic stop resulted in criminal charges for two women. The women face traffic violations and drug charges due to the condition of the vehicle and possession of a small amount of marijuana. The New Jersey stop was an unexpected buzz kill for the residents, who are from a neighboring state.
The incident occurred at approximately 1:29 p.m. on Christmas Day. A police officer pulled over the driver of the vehicle for having a non-functioning light. When the officer approached the vehicle, he detected an odor of marijuana and asked the two young women if they were in possession of any pot. One of the women allegedly admitted to being in possession of drug paraphernalia.
For the female driver, she was charged with expired registration, failure to maintain lamps, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle, possession of under 50 grams of marijuana, and the paraphernalia charge. The passenger was cited with possession of under 50 grams of pot and possession of paraphernalia. It is unclear whether the two women were kept or released on their own recognizance.
Such drug charges in New Jersey can come with harsh penalties. However, changing attitudes about simple possession may reflect in the interpretation of the law and the judge's sentencing. Other factors could possibly help the women get the charges reduced or dropped as well, including the specific circumstances of the stop. Many individuals facing similar charges seek out the help of an experienced criminal defense attorney for help in building a strong defense strategy.
Source: njherald.com, "Two face drug charges in Byram", Dec. 25, 2017
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