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StevenEllmanLaw.com | 609-362-5933 | February 2026
MEDFORD OFFICE 715 Stokes Road, Suite 102 Medford, NJ 08055
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Defending yourself against DUI charges is not fun. It can trigger an ever- present dread that colors everything in your life. I hear from many clients who just want to resolve their case and put it behind them. They send emails: “I just want this to be over.” But in DUI defense, patience pays. To win the best outcomes, clients must get involved, set aside any embarrassment or shame, open up about their life circumstances, and give us time to build a strong, detailed case and negotiate a resolution. No case illustrates this point better than our recent defense of a longtime state employee. This client came to us in a state of extreme anxiety. She had more than two decades’ experience working with families in need, helping ensure that foster children were well cared for. She’d been entrusted with a government vehicle for her job. She had a lot to lose. NIGHTTIME CRASH This woman was making a long drive back home late at night after a holiday celebration with her family when “I guess I fell asleep,” she said. She drove off the road, hit the center divider, then veered back across the highway before bringing her car to a stop on the shoulder. She could easily have been killed. Instead, she was arrested and charged with DUI and a refusal to consent to a breath test. A DUI conviction would require her to use an ignition interlock device for three months, and refusing a breath test would bring a mandatory nine-month ignition interlock. The stakes for this client could hardly have been higher: If she were convicted, she would have lost both her job and her government pension. Understandably, she needed a lot of hand-holding and reassurance during the many months we worked on her case. She relied on us often for emotional support, and we tried to provide it. But we couldn’t let her anxiety cause us to rush. We needed time to build a case. Would enlisting an expert witness strengthen her defense? Did CAREFUL WORK MAKES THE DIFFERENCE IN DUI DEFENSE No Shortcuts
the arresting officer make procedural errors that an expert on police procedures could verify? The state itself is often the source of much of the evidence we produce through discovery, and getting it can be a battle. Also, in this client’s case, medical issues played a role. She provided medical records showing that as a borderline diabetic, she suffers from low blood pressure and low blood sugar. To deal with chronic anxiety caused in part by her high-stress job, she had been prescribed clonazepam, a benzodiazepine. As it turned out, the defense we built for this client rested largely on painting a comprehensive, compassionate portrait highlighting her character, her medical needs, and her long track record of public service. Her case shows the importance of opening up to your attorney about your medical conditions, your medications, and your emotional challenges. Another deciding factor in her case was the involvement of a patient prosecutor who listened to the information we laid out for him and didn’t rush to judgment before hearing it. After nearly a year, I recently had the pleasure of telling my client that both the DUI and the Breathalyzer refusal charges had been dropped. She was thrilled! Honestly, this client is a beautiful person, and she deserved that. But proving that to the prosecutor took a lot of time and hard work. That’s why I urge my clients to be patient and let the process work. Because the process does work! In many cases, the longer we have to resolve these matters, the better the result will be!
–Steven Ellman
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BRIGHT DAY, DIM IDEA SUNLIT STUPIDITY FOILS A THIEF
Santa Claus isn’t real. The world doesn’t disappear when you close your eyes. You can be arrested for burglary regardless of the time of day you commit the crime. Most reasonable people accept the above facts as undeniable truths long before they reach 22. Unfortunately (or humorously, depending on your point of view), James Blankenship of Willoughby, Ohio, was unaware of that last fact despite being a legal adult for four years. One day during the summer of 2013, he broke into his mother’s house in the neighboring city of Eastlake by removing a window screen. Already on shaky ground with his parent for reasons not specified in media coverage of the incident, he had been banned from the Eastlake premises for at least three months before attempting to enter it without permission. According to statements his mother later gave to the police, her son had no possessions in the home at the time of the incident.
Because Blankenship chose to commit his crime in broad daylight, his mother spotted him and alerted the police. Rather than fleeing the neighborhood when he was discovered, he hid in a crawl space near his mother’s home. A witness reported seeing him run behind a nearby house, which allowed police to locate him easily. According to an official statement on the Eastlake Police’s Facebook page, Blankenship told the arresting officers, “I thought you could only be charged with burglary if you break in during the nighttime.” After pleading guilty to a lesser charge of breaking and entering, Blankenship served 60 days in prison (with 120 days out of his original 180-day sentence suspended) and was fined $100. Perhaps most significantly, he also learned a valuable lesson on how the sun helps people see things during the day.
DON’T LET AN UNDERAGE DUI RUIN YOUR FUTURE Zero Tolerance
For teenagers, the consequences of drinking while driving can be dire. Under New Jersey’s zero-tolerance policy, even the smallest amount of alcohol in the bloodstream — such as 0.01%, the equivalent of just one beer — of an underage driver warrants a DUI charge. If a minor driver’s blood alcohol content (BAC) surpasses the adult limit of 0.08% or higher, they are charged as an adult. All 50 states have stricter DUI prohibitions for minors than adults, with BAC limits ranging from 0.00% to 0.02%. Yet peer pressure, a yen for excitement, and immature brain development still lead many teens who are drunk or high to slide behind the wheel.
The strict penalties for teens make sense. Teenage drivers are less likely than adults to drive drunk, but they are at much higher risk of crashing when they do, even at low blood alcohol levels. They also tend not to wear seatbelts, leading to a higher fatality rate. For underage drivers in New Jersey, a DUI conviction can bring a 30- to 90-day license suspension, 15–30 hours of community service, and court- ordered enrollment in an alcohol education course. But the life consequences can tarnish a teen’s long-term future. Students charged with DUI may lose academic scholarships or financial aid. They may be disqualified from certain major fields of study. In extreme cases, they may be expelled from school or college. A DUI conviction also can be an obstacle when a young adult applies for a job. Employers conducting background checks on applicants may disqualify these minors for certain jobs, or any job at all. Also, if these young adults have aspirations to study abroad, travel overseas, or work in a globe-trotting career, they may be denied entry to some countries. Working with an experienced DUI lawyer can prevent these charges from ruining a young adult’s future. If you or someone you love is facing potentially life-changing DUI charges, do not hesitate to contact us. We welcome the chance to mount a strong defense on your behalf!
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ACCUSED OF DUI? How You Can Help Build a Winning Defense Many people charged with DUI feel ashamed or embarrassed and resist sharing the details about what happened with anyone, even their attorney. The stakes are so high, including possible loss of your driver’s license and your job, that wanting to avoid the whole problem is understandable. That’s the opposite of a smart response. To improve your chances of winning a dismissal or reduced charges, you must dive in and give your attorney information that only you can provide, no matter how embarrassing. What was the officer’s attitude when they pulled you over, and what did they say to you? Describe any physical evidence they collected from your vehicle, such as open alcohol containers, and share any photos taken by you or a companion. These details will help your attorney determine whether your rights were violated. Also, the prosecutor must be able to prove that you were driving, or intended to drive, the car at the time of arrest. Perhaps you were just sitting in the passenger’s seat in the parking lot of a bar, trying to call someone to drive you home! Your attorney may be able to build a case that you never intended to be the driver. Your personal habits and medical needs are important, too. Many DUI cases are won by invalidating the results of breath alcohol tests. Use of an inhaler for asthma or lung problems that contains albuterol, salmeterol, or budesonide can cause the readings to be thrown out. And if you’ve used mouthwash, breath spray, or denture adhesive cream, or been exposed to chemicals, paints, and adhesives, these substances can also skew the results. The list goes on: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), diabetes, or pre- diabetes are confounding factors. Vomiting or belching can increase alcohol in the mouth. And simply eating certain fermented foods, such as kimchi or sauerkraut, or following a low-carb keto diet, can cause acetones in the breath that skew breath-test results. Also, breath tests must be skillfully administered by officers trained and certified to use them. If the officer fumbled when using the device or had trouble making it work, that could be a sign of glitchy software, poor calibration, or inadequate training. Even these seemingly small details can be exactly what your attorney needs to build the strongest possible defense on your behalf! And that defense could make all the difference for your future!
DREAM EQUALITY FESTIVAL GROUNDHOG
HEARTS KING LINCOLN MUFFIN
PANCAKE RABBIT ROSES
WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING “I can’t say how grateful I am for everything this law firm did to help my case! Steven and his entire staff went above and beyond to ensure the best outcome for my situation. I highly recommend them! You won’t be disappointed. Thanks again, Steve! –Eric Z. “Steven Ellman! Best DUI Attorney in the state!! Got all my charges dismissed! I cannot thank you enough. I highly recommend him! He kept his word and helped me start over. Thank you and your staff for helping me get through this!” –Mary A.
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715 Stokes Road, Suite 102 Medford, NJ 08055 StevenEllmanLaw.com 609-362-5933
Inside This Issue Behind Every DUI Defense Is Relentless Effort page 1 A Burglary Blown by Brightness page 2 The High Cost of Underage Drinking and Driving page 2 How DUI Defendants Can Strengthen Their Own Case page 3 What Our Clients Are Saying page 3 Peace Is a Playlist Away page 4
Turn Up the Tunes, Turn Down the Stress
THE SOUNDTRACK TO YOUR SANITY
SOUNDTRACKS FOR SWEET SLEEP A lack of proper sleep is linked to numerous mental and physical health issues, and for many people, reaching for their headphones can send them right into dreamland. Listening to calming music with repetitive patterns and simple elements for at least 45 minutes can help you achieve deep sleep. It triggers your body to rest, slowing your breathing and increasing the production of feel-good hormones. The trick to finding the right snooze song is avoiding anything unpredictable, loud, or distracting. Too many complex chord changes or guitar solos can keep your brain on alert. MELODIES MIRROR THE MIND Music is a universal language and an excellent way to help build your confidence and find your voice. By singing along, playing a drum, or moving to the beat, you can express yourself in a way that lets you stave off stress and remember who you are. Next time you are feeling stressed, put on your headphones and your pick-me-up playlist to give your day a whole new, relaxed rhythm.
Have you ever noticed that stress melts away when you tap your foot to a favorite tune or do a little “happy dance”? Music is more than just a soundtrack in our lives; it’s a form of therapy that can help us heal by tuning in and turning up soothing sounds. Your playlist is a science-backed mood booster that can bring calm and balance to your body and mind. TUNING OUT THE TENSION Music can have a considerable impact on how we feel and act. If you are stressed, slow-tempo songs can help quiet the noise in your mind, lift your spirits, and release tension.
The power of audio over anxiety is scientifically proven and corresponds with actual physical changes in your body. Research suggests that music around 60 beats per minute can cause your brain to sync with the rhythm and produce the brainwaves needed for relaxation. Other studies have found that listening to music can lower cortisol levels, the hormone responsible for stress. Calming tunes can even decrease your heart rate and blood pressure.
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