>The Record
Monday, August 18, 2008
A prominent Closter land-use attorney will head to court in October to fight drunken-driving charges.
David Watkins, 57, was arrested the afternoon of July 15, 2007, after driving to the Tenafly home of a client whose car was being impounded, a police report said.
The well-known attorney behind numerous development projects in Closter and surrounding towns had a blood-alcohol content of 0.17 – twice the legal limit, the police report states. Watkins pleaded not guilty last year to charges of driving while intoxicated, careless driving and having “unclear plates.”
The case was transferred to Englewood Municipal Court after Cresskill Municipal Judge Terry P. Bottinelli requested a change of venue. The judge had represented Watkins in another case, Cresskill Court Administrator Craig Ferdinand said.
Watkins’ attorney has subpoenaed officers from Cresskill and Tenafly, but the case has been delayed repeatedly. The police report describes Watkins as failing to perform several sobriety tests and arriving at the scene wearing “messed up” clothes and “two different colored shoes.” The report states he asked police for both Bottinelli and “Romeo,” an apparent reference to Cresskill Mayor Ben Romeo.
Watkins’ attorney, Joseph Rem, filed a motion to suppress all evidence obtained in the case and is seeking extensive documentation on the types of sobriety tests administered and the credentials and training of the officers who performed the tests. Rem also requested documentation on the testing history of the Breathalyzer.
“We’ve had many pleasant conversations with the prosecutor, both sides know what the issues are in the case, and both sides are ready to go forward,” Rem said, declining to comment on the details of the case.
While stressing that Watkins has denied the allegations, he said a conviction on such charges typically involves the loss of a driver’s license and a fine.
Watkins is scheduled to appear Oct. 2 in Englewood Municipal Court.