Check out our January newsletter!
StevenEllmanLaw.com | 609-362-5933 | January 2026
MEDFORD OFFICE 617 Stokes Road, Suite 108 Medford, NJ 08055
NEW BRUNSWICK OFFICE 317 George St, Suite 320 New Brunswick, NJ 08901
NEWARK OFFICE One Gateway Center, Suite 2600 Newark, NJ 07102
WHEN AN ARREST BECOMES A WAKE-UP CALL Recovery Ahead!
I don’t want to sound like an over-the-top idealist here, moralizing about the benefits of getting arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In general, idealism isn’t a useful attitude for a DUI attorney. But based on my experience, for some of my clients, a DUI arrest turns out to be a blessing in disguise. A client of mine was arrested for DUI after police found him parked on the shoulder of the highway, asleep behind the wheel. Officers tested a urine sample and found seven different controlled substances, including fentanyl, cocaine, alprazolam, meth, and marijuana. He also was carrying gabapentin, a drug for which state regulators monitor prescriptions for potential abuse. My client also had a prior DUI for drugs about 7–8 years ago. His arrest scared him, for good reason. With a DUI involving multiple controlled substances, he was at risk of having his license automatically suspended for at least seven months. For a man at his stage of life, a seven-month suspension would have made it very hard to carry on. We went to work on his defense, hiring a toxicologist to challenge the test results. While my client’s urinalysis showed he had multiple drugs in his system, the officers had no way of determining whether the controlled substances had impaired his driving. My client might have been using the drugs the night before. THC from marijuana use, for example, can be detected in urine tests for as long as 30 days after use.
home, he had grown sleepy behind the wheel and pulled over to nap. Also, the circumstances of his arrest were inconclusive. The police had encountered his car only after receiving a 911 call about an accident in the area. While they were following up, they came across his vehicle pulled mostly off the roadway. My client also complained of insomnia, which contributed to his nodding off. Of course, whatever partying or binging he had done with drugs had no doubt compounded the sleeplessness. The abuse of drugs typically makes preexisting medical conditions worse. Clearly, this client wasn’t just a recreational user. He had deeper issues. He was suffering from addiction. And people who use multiple substances, as he did, have a tough road ahead if they undertake addiction treatment, rehab, and recovery. In the end, we negotiated a deal that sidestepped the worst potential legal consequences. My client pleaded guilty to an alcohol DUI and agreed to electronic monitoring for three months via an ignition interlock device, a Breathalyzer attached to his car’s ignition. That outcome was far better than pleading to a drug DUI, which would have led to a seven-month suspension of his license. To me, the fact that this client even survived was a miracle. God saved his life. Our conversation didn’t end there. I am always standing by to help people enter the recovery process so they can achieve better health and a more satisfying position in life. I spoke with my client about the urgency of dealing with his addiction problem. His latest legal case, I said, was just the tip of the iceberg. Fortunately, he entered detox and rehab immediately and enrolled in an intensive outpatient program, including group counseling and treatment 3–5 days a week after work. I encouraged him to stick with it and to be strong.
While my client had fallen asleep in his car, there were other potential reasons for that. He had worked a 15-hour day before his arrest. Driving
Now, as they say in rehab, it’s “one day at a time” … for the rest of his life.
–Steven Ellman
609-362-5933 | 1
policies that outline rules and obligations nations must follow when conducting themselves beyond our clouds.
For example, treaties negotiated by space lawyers were instrumental in getting the Soviet Union to spend millions to clean up radioactive debris deposited over northern Canada by its Cosmos 954 satellite in the late 1970s. Utilizing Article 7 of the Outer Space Treaty (via the 1972 Space Liability Convention), the Canadian government argued that the Soviet Union was on the hook to cover the majority of the cost of Operation Morning Light, an extensive cleanup operation by the U.S. and Canada to remove nearly 50,000 square miles of hazardous material dropped from space. Thanks to space lawyers, no nation can claim ownership of Earth (or any other planet), the moon, or any other entity discovered in the galaxy. However, recent debates have raised an intriguing question: Who would own the resources derived from the moon or another planet? If Russia were to one day discover a life-saving nutrient on the moon’s surface, would it have the right to claim exclusive ownership of this medical marvel? Would this discovery need to be shared with other nations involved in space-related treaties? While it may take years (or the invention of a good time-traveling warp drive) for us to resolve these questions, it’s clear we need space lawyers to tackle these and other questions in a legal frontier that no Earth- bound lawyer has pondered before!
COSMIC COUNSEL WHO MAKES THE RULES IN SPACE?
The phrase “space lawyer” may conjure images of an intergalactic courtroom setting in a “Star Trek” film, but the term and profession are rooted in reality here on Earth. Simply put, space lawyers are legal professionals specializing in international law and drafting agreements between countries regarding their activities throughout our galaxy. Instead of brokering peace treaties between humans and Klingons, these attorneys work to establish
ONE FLASHING LIGHT AWAY
WHEN A MINOR TRAFFIC STOP TURNS INTO MAJOR TROUBLE
Most drivers get pulled over at some point for a traffic violation, from speeding to rolling through a stop sign.
months and a $300 fine. Your auto insurance premiums will rise by at least $1,000 a year for the ensuing three years. And after your license is restored, you’ll be required to install an ignition interlock device for at least six more months! An ordinary traffic stop can actually pose greater risks than being pulled over for a possible DUI. An officer who suspects you’re guilty of DUI will usually tip their hand by asking such questions as, “Have you been drinking this evening?” But if the officer is just making a routine traffic stop for another reason, you might chat openly with them in hopes of leniency. In the process, you may give the officer enough evidence to hit you with a DUI. The minute you suspect an officer is looking for evidence of impaired driving, the best strategy is to stop talking. Ask to consult with a lawyer. As an experienced DUI defense attorney, I would be glad to consult with you and mount the strongest possible defense on your behalf. Don’t hesitate to contact us today!
From the moment you roll down your car window, however, any evidence an officer notices that suggests you’ve been drinking or drugging can land you in handcuffs. Once an officer has grounds for pulling you over, any additional evidence they notice can send the encounter spiraling out of control, leading to DUI charges and more. Police might smell drugs or alcohol in your car or on your breath. They may notice your slurred speech or bloodshot eyes. And they’ll look inside your car for drug apparatus or open alcohol containers. Any of these telltale signs can trigger a Breathalyzer or field sobriety test. The officer may also charge you with driving with an open container. And depending on your behavior during this encounter, you could be hit by more serious criminal charges. While you may refuse a breath test, doing so won’t necessarily prevent DUI charges against you. And a refusal in New Jersey brings harsh penalties, including a license suspension of at least seven
2 | StevenEllmanLaw.com
How a Parked Car Can Still Lead to a DUI Arrest SLEEPING IT OFF WON’T SAVE YOU
BOOTS CANDLES CARNATION FURNACE
GARNET HOCKEY INSULATE JANUS
OPPOSITE RESOLUTION
SKATING SWEATER
For many of us, the desire to take a nap is a familiar feeling. Nearly 1 in 7 adults reports feeling very tired or exhausted most days, according to a survey by the National Center for Health Statistics. If sleepiness hits while you’re driving, pulling over to take a nap at a rest stop or public parking lot may seem like the right thing to do. However, doing so puts you at risk of waking up to a police officer tapping on the car window. If you’ve been drinking, a DUI charge is almost certain to follow. This happened to one of my past clients, who was arrested and charged after an officer discovered him at a rest stop, curled up in a fetal position in the back seat of his Prius! These arrests are based on the idea that even if the car is not running, you most likely intend to drive if you are seated in the driver’s seat or have the keys available in the ignition or your hand. And if your blood alcohol content tests above the legal limit during this encounter, you are vulnerable to a DUI charge.
WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING “Thank you to Mr. Ellman. He saved my CDL! Without his help, I would have lost my job and not been able to take care of my family! I cannot thank him enough. He saved my job and kept a roof over my family’s head. I highly recommend him! Thank you so much!” –Mateo P. “The Ellman office was absolutely great! Maria and Donna made sure to keep me updated consistently on everything going on, and Mr. Ellman got the job done … They didn’t rush me on payments and handled it all very professionally. Thank you!” –Bryan B.
Why are the police meddling with your nap? Several factors account for these arrests.
• Although statewide data shows deaths from drug overdoses in New Jersey have been declining since 2022, the magnitude of the opioid epidemic led to a lasting increase in officers’ checking on people in parked vehicles, to prevent possible overdose deaths.
• Sleeping in your car might be a violation of local ordinances against camping or loitering.
• Certain rest stops and beach towns prohibit overnight parking, giving officers a reason to monitor parked vehicles.
• Lots at Walmart and other retail establishments with “No Overnight Parking” signs also may frown on people sleeping in parked vehicles.
The bottom line: If you’ve been drinking, find someplace other than your vehicle to nap. And if you are arrested while sleeping it off, you will need the help of an experienced DUI attorney to mount a skillful defense. To maximize your chances of getting the charges reduced or dismissed, contact our office today!
609-362-5933 | 3
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
617 Stokes Road, Suite 108 Medford, NJ 08055 StevenEllmanLaw.com 609-362-5933
Inside This Issue How a DUI Can Motivate People to Clean Up Their Lives page 1 The Legal Minds Behind Moon Missions page 2 How Traffic Stops Become Legal Nightmares page 2 A Startling Truth: You Can Still Get a DUI in a Parked Car page 3 What Our Clients Are Saying page 3 Make 2026 Your Healthiest Year Yet page 4
As we enter another new year, there’s no better time to adjust your daily habits to help you become the healthiest version of yourself mentally and physically. Here are three strategies you can incorporate into your New Year’s expectations and resolutions that will help ensure 2026 is your healthiest year yet! START EVERY DAY STRONG. Many Americans fall into the same routines year after year, and most are dangerous for their overall well-being. They stay up too late, wake up to an alarm a few hours later, scramble to get ready, and jump in the car as soon as possible to get to work. Your morning routine sets the tone for your day. If you’re in a hurry every morning, you will feel rushed and exhausted. Give yourself ample time in the morning to take care of yourself and some simple chores. Make your bed, have a glass of water, take good care of your hygiene, eat something, and incorporate some movement into your mornings. It will be hard initially, but you’ll feel the benefits within a few weeks. DIET AND EXERCISE MATTER. This is probably not news to you, but we can’t downplay the importance of diet and exercise. Listen to your body; it will tell you what it needs. Many people fall into the trap of overeating without realizing it or starving themselves when they want to lose weight, but 3 DAILY HABITS THAT WILL TRANSFORM YOUR 2026
this won’t make them feel good. Eat when your body tells you to, stick to a healthy diet, and find time for exercise. You need to find ways to motivate yourself, especially when you want to stay in bed and stick to comfort foods. Your body will thank you. DRINK MORE WATER. How much water do you drink each day? The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that men should drink about 15.5 cups of fluids daily and women should drink 11.5 cups. If you aren’t hitting these numbers, it’s time to adjust. Start and finish each day with a glass of water. Walk around with a refillable bottle. Staying hydrated will help your body function much better.
4 | StevenEllmanLaw.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator