Mahwah Shrinks Number of Backlogged DWI Court Cases

An issue with backlogged DWI court cases in Mahwah is dissipating, according to an update given at a township council meeting last week.

Last month, Mahwah was one of four towns in Bergen County targeted by the Superior Court in Hackensack as needing to reduce its number of “backlogged” DWI cases – or pending cases that had been in the court system for 60 days or more. Mahwah reported 38 backlogged DWI cases, more than any other municipality in the county.

Last month, the township implemented a plan approved by superior court judges that added an additional day of court hearings in Mahwah dedicated to hearing DWI cases. According to an update from Council President Harry Williams at the council’s meeting last Thursday, the plan is working.

Williams reported that the township’s court system recently received a letter from Bergen County Court Assignment Judge Peter E. Doyne saying that the township has so far reduced its number of backlogged cases to 17.

In his letter, Doyne, “thanked the township,” for its commitment to rectifying the issue, Williams said. “This seems to be much better news than what we heard previously,” about the issue, Williams said.

The council will continue to monitor the progress of clearing the backlogged cases, he said.

Submit your questions or news tips to jessica.mazzola@patch.com. And, remember to sign up for Patch's daily newsletter, and get updates on Facebook and Twitter.