Municipal Alliance Gets Local Judge's Take on Drug and Alcohol Problem

Longtime Municipal Court Judge Damian Murray says drug and alcohol use is pervasive, in Lacey and throughout the state.

"There are 35,000 drunk driving cases in the state each year," Murray said. "But most cases aren't caught unless they're discovered at an accident scene or if people see someone all over the road and call the police."

He said in Lacey he sees as many as 300 drunken driving cases a year, which he credits to the township's strict enforcement.

Murray spoke at the Lacey Township Municipal Alliance meeting Monday.  He was invited by Township Committeeman David Most, who is liaison to the Alliance.

"The judge enforces the laws in the community so I thought it would be nice to get his perspective on the problem," Most said. "We want to find the real problem. The judge realizes this is not an easy fix."

Murray said when he first became judge in Lacey, court was held twice a month.  Now, court is held four times a month on Tuesdays, with one day out of the month devoted solely to drunken driving cases. 

The judge pointed out there are some stiff fines associated with drunken driving convictions. First offenders face a $250 to $500 fine, $325 in state assessments, a $1,000 insurance surcharge per year for three years, a minimum of three months to a year loss of license, a 30-day possible jail sentence and a 12-hour program at the Ocean County Intoxicated Drivers Resource Center.

If the person's blood alcohol level is .15 or above, they must take the 48-hour course at a regional resource center and also are required to install, at their own expense, an ignition interlock device for six months to a year after they get their license back, he said.

Ignition interlock devices prevent cars from being operated if the driver has a blood alcohol level of .04 or above. That's below the legal limit of .08.

For a second offense, the fines are $500 to $1,000, the $325 assessment, $1,000 insurance surcharge each year for three years, a mandatory two-year loss of license, mandatory 30 days community service, the 48-hour resource center program, possibly 90 days in jail and one to three years with an ignition interlock device, he said.

While Murray said his court does not handle juvenile cases, if they involve driving, all cases come to him. 

"I've had cases from age 14 to the 80s, any time of year and any socioeconomic class," said Murray. "I've had unlicensed drivers as young as 12 out on the road."

He said drunken driving is not restricted to autos alone; riding lawn mowers, scooters and things running on anything other than muscular power are included. 

"We do see underage drivers and they're given fines of $500 or more," Murray said. "We don't necessarily want to give them criminal records. We don't want to ruin kids' lives forever, but there are ramifications."

The judge noted that alcohol and drug use is the root of many other crimes such as shoplifting, employee theft, burglary, theft and writing bad checks, as well as violent crimes and domestic violence.

"It's a continuing problem," he said. "It's a circus out there."

He said marijuana use is pervasive, even in elementary schools, and can be found anywhere and everywhere. In addition, prescription drug use is rampant, with kids getting percocet and oxycodone from their parents' and grandparents' medicine chests.

"Heroin has become the drug of choice because it's so cheap, $10 a bag," said Murray. "Most people can't afford to buy oxycodone on the street, and cocaine is expensive so you're not going to see a lot of it."

Murray said there is a great benefit to collaborating in the fight against drugs and alcohol with the Municipal Alliance.

"Municipal Alliances are good at community awareness and involvement," he said. "We don't want vigilantes, but informed people can be the eyes and ears of the police department."

Committeeman Most said the Municipal Alliance plans to continue to invite community partners to speak at the monthly meetings. The guest speaker for the Feb. 27 meeting will be new Lacey Township Superintendent of Schools Dr. Sandra Brower. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m.