Liverman Pleads Guilty to DUI

Township Committeeman Lance Liverman has accepted a guilty plea stemming from his Aug. 9 arrest for DUI, taking a seven-month suspension of his driver’s license and paying a fine of more than $1,000.

He pled guilty to DUI and refusing a Breathalyzer test. The charges for reckless driving and making an unsafe lane change were dismissed, Liverman said.

“I’m not happy with any of this, but when you look at the big picture, it is what it is,” Liverman said on Wednesday. “I want this behind me, I’m done with this.”

The accident happened as Liverman, 50, was driving north on Route 95 at 1:55 a.m. A New Jersey State Trooper said Liverman drifted out of his lane and sideswiped a tractor-trailer. No one was hurt.

The trooper asked Liverman to take a Breathalyzer test, but he refused.

Liverman said he was exhausted and fell asleep at the wheel after having dinner with friends in Philadelphia. He said he had no idea that a refusal would mean not only a DUI, but also an additional charge for refusal.

On Sept. 11, Liverman appeared before Hopewell Township Municipal Court Judge Charles Ouslander. He told the judge he was unable to reach an agreement with the prosecutor and was scheduled for trial on Oct. 9.

Rather than wait, Liverman chose to appear in court on Sept. 20 and pled guilty. His name did not appear on the public docket, but the court allowed him to make an appearance. Liverman said this is something that happens all the time and is up to the court’s discretion.  

Liverman told Town Topics he decided to appear quietly in court due to the media frenzy that greeted him on Sept. 11 in Hopewell. In fact, there was no media frenzy that day, merely two reporters – including one from Patch- who greeted Liverman and then sat down- one read a book and one made phone calls.

Liverman told Patch on Thursday it wasn’t about frenzy at court that day, it was the half dozen reporters who contacted him that day about his court appearance. He said he just wanted to end it quietly.

He admits he had a few beers the night the night of the accident, but claims he was not drunk.

“For me, I used to drive for a living, I could drive 15-20 hours a day,” Liverman said. “But at 50 years old, I can’t do that anymore. This has been a wake up call for me.”

He said he’s been overwhelmed by the support he’s received from the community.

“People have been coming up to me now matter where I am, and saying ‘if you need me, I’m here.’ It’s been really, really, touching.”

His advice for anyone who is stopped and asked to take a Breathalyzer test?

“Consent no matter what,” Liverman said. “And if you’re physically impaired (from anything), don’t drive.”