A routine patrol in the Borough of Highlands turned into a viral Highlands NJ DWI Arrest after a driver’s simple oversight caught the eye of a local officer. Late on the night of March 23, 2023, what started as a drive with no headlights ended with a local woman in handcuffs and her vehicle being towed away.
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Watch: Highlands NJ DWI Arrest Caught on Camera
Note: Pay close attention to the timestamp at 00:03:56 where the driver admits to drinking wine shortly before getting behind the wheel.
Full Story: How the Incident Unfolded
The incident began at approximately 9:39 PM when Patrolman Alvator spotted a Toyota SUV traveling northbound on Bay Avenue. The vehicle was moving through the darkness without its headlights activated.
Officer Alvator, accompanied by a Field Training Officer, followed the vehicle onto Waterwitch Avenue and then Linden Avenue. While the driver eventually turned the lights on, the officer witnessed the SUV swerve over the double yellow lines twice.
The driver, identified as Marka Doolittle, finally came to a stop on Serpentine Drive in Middletown after the officer activated his emergency lights. When the officer approached the window, he was met with the smell of alcohol and slurred speech.
Doolittle claimed she was simply driving her mother’s car, which had been sitting for a year. However, she also admitted to the officer, “I had some wine… probably like an hour ago.”
Failed Field Sobriety Tests on Serpentine Drive
Officer Alvator requested that Doolittle exit the vehicle to perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs). The scene became increasingly tense as the driver struggled to follow basic instructions.
During the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test, Doolittle failed to follow the officer’s eyes correctly, rendering the test incomplete. She managed to recite the alphabet but continued to speak with a noticeable slur.
The One-Legged Stand and Walk and Turn tests proved even more difficult. Doolittle used her arms for balance and started the walking test before the officer had finished giving instructions. After multiple failed attempts to stay on the line, the officers determined she was too impaired to drive.
The Breathalyzer Result: Over the Legal Limit
Doolittle was placed under arrest and transported to Highlands Police Department headquarters. Throughout the transport, the officer noted that the odor of alcohol filled the entire patrol vehicle.
Once at the station, she agreed to a chemical breath test. After a mandatory 20-minute observation period, the Alcotest results were clear.
Marka Doolittle yielded a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .09%. In the state of New Jersey, any level at or above .08% is considered legally intoxicated.
The Arrest: Charges Against Marka Doolittle
The following charges were filed as a result of the stop:
| Charge | Simple Explanation | Potential Penalty (US) |
| 39:4-50 | Driving While Intoxicated | License loss, heavy fines, and possible jail time. |
| 39:4-96 | Reckless Driving | Points on license and additional fines. |
| 39:3-47(a) | Failure to use headlights | Fines and safety violations. |
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Legal Analysis: Was the Highlands NJ DWI Arrest Justified?
From a legal perspective, the Highlands NJ DWI Arrest appears to follow standard New Jersey police protocol.
- Fourth Amendment Check: The initial stop was justified because the officer observed a specific traffic violation—driving without headlights at night. This provided “reasonable suspicion” to pull the vehicle over.
- Probable Cause: The odor of alcohol, slurred speech, admission of drinking, and the failure of physical balance tests provided the “probable cause” needed to make an arrest.
- New Jersey Law: Under
[Link to NJ Statute 39:4-50], the .09% BAC reading is “per se” evidence of intoxication, meaning the state does not need to prove the driver felt “drunk,” only that her blood alcohol was over the limit.
[Read more Evidence Decode investigations here]
5 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to the legal charges in this case
Can a driver be charged with a DWI even if their BAC is only slightly over the limit?
Yes. In New Jersey, any Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .08% or higher is considered “per se” evidence of driving while intoxicated for operators over 21. Even a reading of .09%, as seen in this incident, is sufficient for a 39:4-50 charge regardless of how “sober” a driver may feel or act.
Does a police officer need a specific reason to pull a vehicle over before a DWI investigation?
Absolutely. Officers must have reasonable suspicion that a violation has occurred. Common triggers include “equipment violations,” such as failure to use headlights at night, or “moving violations” like swerving over double yellow lines. Once the vehicle is stopped, any observation of slurred speech or the odor of alcohol allows the officer to escalate the stop into a DWI investigation.
What happens if a driver struggles with physical balance tests but passes the alphabet test?
Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) are evaluated as a whole. While a driver might successfully recite the alphabet, failures in physical tests like the One-Legged Stand or the Walk and Turn (such as using arms for balance or starting too early) provide the officer with probable cause to believe the driver is impaired.
How is “Reckless Driving” different from a standard DWI charge in New Jersey?
While a DWI (39:4-50) specifically focuses on impairment by alcohol or drugs, Reckless Driving (39:4-96) is a separate charge applied when a person drives in a manner that willfully endangers the rights or safety of others. In many Highlands NJ DWI arrests, if a driver is seen swerving into oncoming traffic lanes, they may face both charges simultaneously.
Is a vehicle always towed and impounded following a DWI arrest?
Under New Jersey’s “John’s Law,” police are generally required to impound the vehicle for a minimum period (usually 12 hours) following a DWI arrest to prevent the intoxicated person from immediately returning to the road. The vehicle is typically released only after the impound period to a responsible party.
Conclusion & Current Status
Following the processing, Michael Doolittle responded to the police headquarters to take custody of Marka Doolittle. She was released with a summons to appear in Highlands Municipal Court. Her vehicle was impounded by Hennessey’s Towing.
Download Police Report click here.
Disclaimer: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This report is based on official police records.
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