“You got me,” a 19-year-old driver admitted to officers during a tense Highlands NJ Underage DWI Arrest that began with a dangerous swerve across highway lanes. What started as a night out at a popular Jersey Shore bar ended with a teenager in handcuffs and a passenger nearly arrested for obstruction. This case is going viral because of the suspect’s blunt honesty and the chaotic interference from her passenger during the investigation.
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Watch: Highlands NJ Underage DWI Arrest Caught on Camera
Note: Pay close attention to the timestamp at 00:05:42 where the driver realizes the officer has noticed her intoxication and admits, “You got me”.
Full Story: From Donovan’s Reef to Handcuffs
The incident began on the evening of May 21, 2023, near the base of the Sea Bright/Highlands Bridge. Officer Alvator was watching northbound traffic when a tan 2009 Dodge Caliber caught his eye. The car’s passenger-side tires repeatedly crossed the white dotted line, swerving dangerously toward other lanes.
As the officer followed, he watched the driver tailgate the vehicle in front, maintaining less than a single car length of space at highway speeds. When the officer activated his emergency lights, the Dodge continued driving for several moments before finally pulling over near Orchard Street.
Upon approaching the window, the officer was met with the heavy scent of alcohol. The driver, Karina Armando, was giggling excessively and had bloodshot, watery eyes. She was also wearing a white wristband with red stars—a common identifier for patrons of the local bar “Donovan’s Reef”.
Armando admitted she was coming from the bar and had consumed two “Fisher Islands,” which are alcoholic lemonade drinks. The situation quickly escalated when the officer realized Armando was only 19 years old—two years under the legal drinking age.
The Chaos: Passenger Interference and Safety Risks
The investigation was nearly derailed by the passenger, Olivia Morrow. From the start, Morrow was argumentative, frequently interjecting and even reaching over to snatch the keys out of the ignition to throw them on the dashboard before the driver could.
While Armando attempted the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) on the side of the busy highway, Morrow repeatedly ignored orders to stay in the vehicle. She exited the car multiple times, claiming she needed to “witness” the tests and shouting at officers. Officers eventually warned her she would be arrested for obstruction if she continued to interfere.
During the tests, Armando struggled significantly:
- One-Leg Stand: She swayed side-to-side, kept her knee bent, and eventually put her foot down to regain balance.
- Walk and Turn: She repeatedly broke the starting position and failed to touch her heel to her toe, using a “normal walking gate” instead of the required technique.
- Finger Dexterity: She counted sporadically and failed to match her finger movements to her verbal count.
The Arrest: Charges Against Karina Armando
Following the failed tests, Armando was placed under arrest. She was transported to the Atlantic Highlands Police Department to use their Alcotest breathalyzer machine, but she initially refused to provide a clear “yes” or “no” answer, leading to an additional refusal charge.
| Charge | Simple Explanation | Potential Penalty (NJ) |
| DWI (39:4-50) | Driving while intoxicated by alcohol or drugs. | Fines, license suspension, and mandatory IDRC. |
| Refusal (39:4-50.4A) | Refusing to submit to a chemical breath test. | Up to 20-year license revocation and $2,000 fine. |
| Reckless Driving | Driving with a willful disregard for safety. | Fines and potential jail time. |
| Marked Lanes Violation | Failing to stay within a single lane of travel. | Fines and points on license. |
| Tailgating | Following another vehicle too closely. | Fines and points on license. |
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Legal Analysis: Was the Highlands NJ Underage DWI Arrest Justified?
From a legal perspective, the Highlands NJ Underage DWI Arrest appears to follow standard Fourth Amendment protocols.
- The Stop: The officer had “Reasonable Suspicion” to pull the vehicle over after observing multiple lane violations and tailgating, which are clear motor vehicle infractions.
- The Search/Arrest: The physical signs of impairment (slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, odor of alcohol) and the driver’s admission of drinking provided “Probable Cause” for the arrest.
- The Refusal: In New Jersey, “implied consent” laws mean that by driving on state roads, you agree to provide a breath sample if arrested for DWI. Armando’s ambiguous answers were legally treated as a refusal.
[Read more Evidence Decode investigations here]
5 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding the charges in the Karina Armando case:
Can a driver be charged with a DWI even if they are under the legal drinking age of 21?
Yes. In this case, Karina Armando was 19 years old and was charged with Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) under statute 39:4-50. For drivers under 21 in New Jersey, any detectable amount of alcohol (0.01% BAC or higher) can lead to penalties, but since she admitted to consuming “Fisher Island” alcoholic lemonades and showed physical signs of impairment, she was processed under the standard DWI statute.
Why was the suspect charged with “Refusal” if she didn’t explicitly say “No”?
Under New Jersey law, anything other than an unconditional “Yes” to a breath test is considered a refusal. During the processing, Armando provided ambiguous or non-responsive answers instead of a clear “Yes” when asked if she would submit samples of her breath. As a result, she was charged with Refusal to Submit to Chemical Testing (39:4-50.4A).
What specific driving behaviors led to the “Reckless Driving” and “Marked Lanes” charges?
The officer observed multiple traffic violations before the stop:
Marked Lanes (39:4-88): The vehicle’s passenger-side tires went completely over the white dotted line multiple times near the Sea Bright/Highlands Bridge and Miller Street. Reckless Driving (39:4-96): This charge was issued based on the driver’s “willful disregard” for safety, combining the swerving with high-speed tailgating.
Is “Tailgating” a criminal offense or a traffic summons in this case?
It was issued as a traffic summons under statute 39:4-89, officially listed as “Following; Space Between Truck” (commonly known as tailgating). The officer noted that Armando was driving less than one car length behind the vehicle in front of her while traveling on SR 36.
Could the passenger’s behavior have led to additional charges for the driver?
While the passenger, Olivia Morrow, was the one acting aggressively and interfering with the investigation, her actions directly influenced the officer’s assessment of the scene’s safety. However, the five specific charges—DWI, Refusal, Reckless Driving, Marked Lanes, and Tailgating—were based solely on Armando’s operation of the vehicle and her subsequent failure of the field sobriety tests.
Conclusion & Current Status
Karina Armando was processed at Highlands Police Department and eventually released to a sober party, Daniel Duarte, after he signed a Potential Liability Waiver. Her vehicle was impounded under “John’s Law,” which requires a 12-hour hold on vehicles involved in DWI arrests. She was ordered to appear in Highlands Municipal Court on June 6, 2023.
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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