Arrest on Charge of DUI Made After Newark Man Drives Vehicle Into Surf on Navy Beach at Cape Henlopen

Delaware Natural Resources Police State Park officers arrested 48-year-old Donald R. Quill Jr. of Newark, Del. on a charge of driving under the influence (DUI) and additional traffic violations Thursday evening after he drove his vehicle into the ocean on Cape Henlopen.

At approximately 7:20 p.m., on Sept. 8, officers responded to Cape Henlopen State Park’s Navy Beach following a report of a water rescue in progress. Witnesses called 911 after seeing a vehicle driven into the surf. Bystanders quickly entered the water and helped the driver from the vehicle and onto shore.

During the Natural Resources Police investigation, officers observed that Quill displayed signs of impairment. He was then transported to Rehoboth Police Department for further investigation, where he was charged with DUI, a misdemeanor, and inattentive driving and operating a motor vehicle on closed Delaware State Parks areas, both traffic violations.

Quill was video-arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 2 and was committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $1,502 cash bond and issued a no-contact order with all Delaware State Parks.

Defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a jury trial at which the State bears the burden of proving each charge beyond a reasonable doubt.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation oversees more than 26,000 acres in 17 state parks and the Brandywine Zoo. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Captain John McDerby, john.mcderby@delaware.gov; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov


New Law Improves Prosecution Of Driving Under The Influence Cases

Misdemeanor DUI Defendants Now Entitled To Only One Trial

Delaware drivers charged with misdemeanor Driving Under the Influence (a first or second offense) will now receive only a single opportunity for a criminal trial. This is the result of the General Assembly’s late June passage of legislation that addressed a provision in Delaware law allowing DUI defendants who were convicted in Justice of the Peace Court to have their case retried on the merits in the Court of Common Pleas. The legislation, House Bill 207, was signed by Governor Carney on June 30, and took effect immediately.

Under the new law, Justice of the Peace Court will be able to accept guilty pleas in DUI cases, but only the Court of Common Pleas will be able to hear trials for those defendants who choose to go to trial. This change, advocated by both the Department of Justice and the judiciary, streamlines the criminal justice system, provides consistency in the disposition of these serious offenses, and alleviates the impact of multiple trials on civilian witnesses, police, and prosecutors. These efficiencies will allow police and prosecutors to focus on preventing and prosecuting other crimes.

“The passage of this law was important for two reasons,” said Delaware Attorney General Matt Denn. “The first was justice. Everyone is entitled to a trial, but there should not be a special group of defendants who are entitled to two trials. The second reason was effective use of the criminal justice system’s resources. With the passage of this bill, DUI offenders will treated consistently, and police officers, prosecutors, and witnesses will be freed of the burden of multiple trials. Police, prosecutors, and DOJ staff will be able to dedicate their attention to other cases at a time when government services are short staffed, and police officers will be able to get back on the road and prevent other crimes.”

“When resources are tight, it is vital to use them well. By focusing all non-felony DUI trials in the Court of Common Pleas, H.B. 207 will maximize efficiency for prosecutors, defense counsel, police, and the judiciary itself. Precisely to cut down on the inconvenience and waste that sometimes resulted from splitting DUI jurisdiction between two different courts — and leaving room for procedural maneuvering between them — the Joint Study of the Delaware Courts Conducted by the Delaware State Bar Association and the American College of Trial Lawyers recommended this useful step,” said Chief Justice Leo E. Strine, Jr.

Attorney General Denn expressed his gratitude to the legislative sponsors of the bill, Representative Helene Keeley, Senator Margaret Rose Henry, and Senator Ernie Lopez, and to State Prosecutor Sean Lugg and Deputy Attorney General Danielle Brennan for their work in getting the bill passed.

“I am passionate about ensuring the safety of drivers on our roads and improving how driving under the influence offenses are addressed, so I am extremely pleased to see the Governor sign this bill into law,” said Rep. Helene Keeley, HB 207’s prime sponsor. “This legislation streamlines the justice system so that misdemeanor driving under the influence cases can be heard in the Court of Common Pleas for disposition. Going forward, the process will continue to be an efficient way to manage and tackle DUI dispositions, and provide an avenue for people to be considered for specialized treatment post-adjudication.”

“From the way we deploy police on the streets to the cases we try in our court room, having a fair and efficient criminal justice system is critical to our state,” said Senate Majority Leader Margaret Rose Henry. “This legislation ensures that DUI offenders are getting fair trials, but aren’t afforded special access to the court system. This way we can more efficiently and expeditiously focus on bringing more serious cases to justice.”

“I was very pleased to see the passage of this bipartisan legislation,” said Senator Ernie Lopez. “As a member of the impaired driving task force, this bill was something many of us spent a great deal of time working on. Improving our DUI enforcement and adjudication process is something that I know our constituency feels is vital to Delaware’s public safety.”

“The Fraternal Order of Police was pleased to see that HB 207 passed and was signed by the Governor,” said Delaware FOP President Fred Calhoun. “We feel this is the first step in modifying current antiquated laws and procedures, providing member of the judicial system that ability to work in a more productive and efficient manner.”

“The Delaware Police Chiefs Council would like to thank everyone involved in drafting and enacting this legislation. We sincerely appreciate the work of State Prosecutor Sean Lugg and Deputy Attorney General Danielle Brennan on this bill,” Camden Police Chief William Bryson, head of the state police chiefs council, said. “We expect this new law will allow our officers to spend more time removing intoxicated drivers from our roads and less time in court.”


Checkpoint Strikeforce Continues Statewide

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Checkpoint Strikeforce Continues Statewide
Statewide Enforcement Checkpoints Aim to Reduce DUI-Related Crashes and Fatalities

(Dover, DE) – On Saturday, December 10th, more than 75 law enforcement officers from across Delaware will gather at five locations in Wilmington, Bear, Dover, Rehoboth Beach, and Millsboro to conduct statewide impaired driving checkpoints.

The December 10th event will consist of 5 DUI checkpoints across the State, in 5 different locations. There are 2 checkpoints in New Castle County, 1 in Kent County, and 2 in Sussex County. Delaware State Police and local law enforcement agencies will work together to conduct the checkpoints across the state.

FAQs on life after a DUI can be found at http://www.arrivealivede.com/Drive-Sober/FAQs. The link to OHS’ website about driving sober, DUI fatalities and arrests is http://www.arrivealivede.com/DriveSober. For more information on impaired driving visit http://www.nhtsa.gov/Impaired.

The Office of Highway Safety (OHS) is committed to improving the safety of Delaware’s motoring public by focusing on behavioral traffic safety issues such as impaired driving, seat belt use, speeding, child passenger safety, pedestrian and bicycle safety, motorcycle safety, and teen driving issues.

Contact: Lisa Flowers, Community Relations Officer (PIO)
Office: 302-744-2743 Mobile: 302-943-7293
Email: Lisa.Flowers@delaware.gov


Traffic Safety News – You Can’t Hide from a DUI

A DUI will follow you everywhere.  No matter where you go.  No matter what you do.  It’s a choice that has long-lasting consequences.

What you need to know

Each time a person chooses to drink and drive, there is a very real possibility of arrest, injury, and even death. Consider the following:

  • In 2012, 48 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes on Delaware roads.  This represents almost half of all persons
    killed on Delaware roads last year.
  • In the same year, more than 4,300 people in Delaware were arrested for DUI.

The Office of Highway Safety and our law enforcement partners will be coordinating extra DUI enforcement efforts this month and throughout the summer.

What you can do

Each person who is arrested and convicted of DUI faces the following consequences:

  • Loss of license.
  • Fines, court costs, and attorney fees averaging $6,300.
  • Possible jail time.
  • Mandatory alcohol and drug counseling.
  • Possible ignition interlock device placed in your vehicle.
  • Higher insurance rates.
  • Time off work for court appearances.

You can’t hide from a DUI.  Avoid one at all costs.  Designate a sober driver.

Drive Sober.  Arrive Alive DE.

This message was sent to you by the Office of Highway Safety, who asks you to drive safely at all times.  For more information on this and other traffic safety programs, go to www.ohs.delaware.gov.