Broken Taillight Leads to Marijuana Charges
In February, I posted a blog article called "Get your headlights fixed". Here is a perfect example why. Police stopped a car this past week in Keyport, NJ for a broken taillight. As the officer approached the vehicle he smelled the odor of marijuana emanating from the car. As a result, the officer utilized a police dog to find the drugs. The dog alerted the officer to the area near the gas tank door. The police found nine (9) bags of marijuana hidden under the fuel tank door. The police also found $750 cash. The defendants are charged with possession of marijuana, possession with intent to distribute, possession with intent to distribute in a school zone, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Both men are being held at the Monmouth County Jail in Freehold, New Jersey on $30,000 bail.
If you are driving a vehicle with a headlight or taillight out, this is a violation of New Jersey Motor Vehicle Laws and gives law enforcement a valid reason to pull you over. Thus, there will be no way for a defense attorney to challenge the initial stop. However, police are not allowed to search your vehicle just based on this traffic stop. On the other hand, if police see drugs or other contraband in "plain view", detect the odor of marijuana, or smell alcohol in the vehicle or on the breath of the driver, this can lead to other, much more serious charges such as drug possession or drunk driving. As a result, it is important to keep all your car lights in working order at all times.
