Detective Eric Darnsteadt, from the West Milford Police Department, spoke to the staff about drunk driving around West Milford and the dangers of such behavior.

What advice would you give to teen/adult about the dangers of drunk or buzzed driving? “First, I would say, according to the law, there is no difference between buzzed and drunk driving. I know the connotation of ‘buzzed’ does not necessarily mean ‘drunk’, but the mental, physical and reactions behind the wheel are still there and extremely dangerous. If you are a teen… legally you should not be drinking period, but we know that teens do drink. The best advice I can give is if you are drinking, don’t drive… stay put if at a house, have a sober designated driver, use a car service (taxi, Uber, Lyft) or call parents. While teens may not want to [do that] because they might get in trouble, it shows maturity and responsibility and at the end of the day, your parents want you alive.”

Legally, what is Drunk Driving? “In NJ – any person who operates a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, narcotic, hallucinogenic or habit producing drug, or operates a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of .08% or more by weight of alcohol in the person’s blood.”

What should you say if you get stopped? “If you are stopped, honesty and cooperation go a long way. Officers will know if you’re drunk. Contrary to popular opinion, driving is a privilege and NOT a right.”

What are the penalties for DWI? “Penalties vary on situation. Generally speaking: [the penalties can include] the embarrassment of being arrested (it happens out in public, the name is in the newspaper or on the Internet), impounded car (tow fees of over $100 plus daily storage fees), fines ranging from $250 to $1000, license points (additional fines and points for other violations), license suspensions from 3 months to 1 year, lawyer costs, insurance surcharges or loss of insurance, time loss from work for court or driver resource center, possible jail time.”

Is this a problem in West Milford? Does it Change around the Holidays? “Drunk Driving is a huge problem all around the country. Here in WM it is a problem namely because outside of tobacco, alcohol is the most widely abused drug because it’s legal. We have more bars and liquor stores than anything else in town. The other part of the problem is we don’t have a public transit system in our area and people drive everywhere. WMPD usually arrests 40-50 people on average per year for DWI. WMPD also investigates fatal DWI crashes (1 to 3) on average. We do notice an increase around the holidays. This is usually because of parties and celebrations, but there are also those who are dealing with loss and personal issues during the holidays who tend to drink as a coping mechanism. Statewide enforcement activities are set up around hose times.”