TSA Officer at Newark Airport Charged with DWI

A TSA officer at Newark Liberty International Airport was recently arrested on charges for driving while intoxicated (DWI) after being stopped by Port Authority police.

According to Port Authority spokesman Joseph Pentangelo, 33-year-old East Orange resident Kimberly Fleming was stopped on Routes 1 and 9 at approximately 1:30 a.m. on Monday, January 4th. The TSA officer, who serves as a screener at Newark Airport, was reportedly driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) over twice the legal limit when she was stopped by Port Authority Police.

The officers conducting the stop say that Fleming presented with bloodshot eyes, smelled strongly of alcohol, and was driving with only one shoe at the time. Per reports, she stumbled as she exited the vehicle and subsequently failed a field sobriety test at the scene. Fleming’s vehicle also showed signs of damage, which she attributed to another driver who crashed into her 2013 Nissan.

Fleming was charged with DWI shortly thereafter and was released pending her first appearance in Elizabeth Municipal Court. Fleming was also suspended from her job at Newark Airport for 7 days. As for the penalties to which she is exposed, first offenses for DWI in New Jersey vary based on the driver’s registered blood alcohol content at the time of the offense.

If Fleming has never been convicted of DWI in the past, she will likely face a license suspension ranging from 7 months to 1 year, fines ranging from $300 to $500, up to 30 days to be served in the county jail, and between 12 and 48 hours at a state-approved Intoxicated Driver Resource Center. Due to the exceedingly high alleged Blood Alcohol Content in this case, Fleming may also be forced to install a mandatory ignition interlock device in her vehicle during the period of license suspension, as well as between 6 months and 1 year following license restoration.

For additional information related to this case, access the following article: TSA agent booked on DWI charges outside Newark airport, officials say