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New Jersey man in elf costume charged with DWI

New Jersey man in elf costume charged with DWI


When a sergeant arrived, he located the vehicle by the loading dock of the Target store, and it allegedly had its lights on, engine running and music turned up loud. The police department says that the 23-year-old man behind the wheel was asleep and wearing an elf costume. The sergeant turned off the vehicle and woke up the driver, after which he reported smelling a strong scent of alcohol on the driver's breath. The officer also reported that the driver seemed confused about where he was and that there was an open beer can in the van.

The sergeant conducted a set of field sobriety tests with the man and took him to police headquarters to complete a breath test. Authorities did not disclose the result of the breath test. The man was issued summonses for DWI, having an open alcoholic beverage in a vehicle and careless driving. He was released into the care of a family member while awaiting a court appearance scheduled for Jan. 6.

In New Jersey, a person convicted of DWI may also be subject to surcharges, fines, increased insurance premiums, driver's license suspension and imprisonment. A lawyer might be able to help defendants show that they were not intoxicated despite the results of breath tests or their performance during field sobriety tests. He or she could also show evidence that authorities did not conduct the tests correctly or violated the defendant's rights.

Source:, "Man dressed as elf charged with DWI", Kimberly Redmond, December 20, 2014