Crime

More Than 20,000 DWI Convictions In New Jersey Could Be Overturned

A court ruled Breathalyzer tests done in five counties between 2008 and 2016 are inadmissible as evidence.

More Than 20,000 DWI Convictions In New Jersey Could Be Overturned
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SMS

More than 20,000 New Jersey convictions based on Breathalyzer tests could be overturned after a state supreme court ruling.

The court ruled tests done in five counties between 2008 and 2016 are inadmissible as evidence because the machines used to conduct them weren't calibrated correctly.

Officials accused former State Police Sgt. Marc Dennis, who was in charge of calibrating the machines, of skipping one of the calibration steps. Dennis has pleaded not guilty to records tampering among other charges, but that case is still ongoing.

The decision doesn't mean the 20,667 convictions are automatically expunged. But the court ordered officials to notify anyone affected so they can challenge their convictions.