According to reports, two people were arrested, one on allegations of felony drug offenses, following a traffic stop on I-95. Sources indicate that the two were stopped on I-95 by officers with the New York state police. The stop and subsequent arrests allegedly occurred on Jan. 1 around 3:10 p.m.
The two accused, both 24-years-old, are residents of Connecticut. The driver, a woman, was initially stopped by law enforcement for an alleged speeding violation. Following the stop, officers indicated they suspected the driver was under the influence of drugs at the time. In a subsequent search of the vehicle and the male passenger, officers purportedly found the passenger to be in possession of ecstasy, LSD, drug paraphernalia and marijuana.
Both the female driver and the male passenger were taken into custody. The woman is facing misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence of drugs, while the man is facing felony drug possession charges. It is unclear why the officers suspected the female driver was under the influence of drugs or what prompted the search of the car as well as the passenger. The man remains in custody in the Westchester County Jail.
Drug charges can carry potentially significant criminal penalties if the charged person is convicted. In addition to the possibility of lengthy incarceration and fines, people may suffer collateral consequences from a drug charge conviction long after the case is over. Often, people who have a felony drug conviction may find it difficult to receive housing approval, secure employment or obtain needed credit. A criminal defense attorney may be able to help defend against drug charges. In some cases, an attorney may be able to negotiate a favorable plea or fight the case through to its end. Attorneys may also review the facts to determine whether there were sufficient grounds for a warrantless search.
Source: Macro Insider, “I-95 traffic stop leads to felony drug charges,” Jan. 2, 2015