Watch NJ Lawmaker Unleash Vulgar Tirade During DWI Arrest

MOUNT LAUREL — A state lawmaker unleashed an expletive-laced tirade and repeatedly reminded police officers of her political status when they arrested her after a car accident in April, a newly released video shows.

Assemblywoman Maria Rodriguez-Gregg, R-Burlington, cursed out the Mount Laurel officers and accused them of harassing her after she got rear-ended April 28 at Route 73 and Fellowship Road, according to body camera video obtained by The Trentonian.

Rodriguez-Gregg, the first Hispanic Republican woman elected to the state legislature, has been fighting charges of driving while intoxicated, reckless driving and obstruction of justice stemming from the crash. She announced last month she would not seek re-election to a third term.

A police officer talking to Rodriguez-Gregg, 35, while she sat in her car after the collision told her he and another officer smelled marijuana coming from her car and asked to do a search, the video shows. She denied having marijuana and grew increasingly agitated.

WARNING: This video contains explicit language.

“Are you serious right now? I’m a sitting assemblywoman,” Rodriguez-Gregg said. “Do you really think that I’m (expletive) smoking marijuana at this time of night? All right, I’m calling my lawyer.”

After she continued to refuse to consent to a search, the officer told if she did not step out of her car, he would arrest her for obstruction, the video shows.

“Do not talk to me that way. I am a sitting assemblywoman,” Rodriguez-Gregg said. “I am not an (expletive).”

As the officers searched her car and failed to turn up marijuana, Rodriguez-Gregg yelled from outside, “Exactly! Nothing there!” She told someone on the phone that the cops were harassing her and she wanted them to get away from her.

Then, she addressed the cops again.

“You’re dealing with a sitting assemblywoman,” Rodriguez-Gregg said. “Everybody’s going to know about this (expletive). Harass a Latina female. … I have done nothing but support the police. I have been one of your number one supporters politically.”

Rodriguez-Gregg refused a sobriety test, saying she did not trust the officers, and they arrested her.

Her lawyer, Edward Kologi, told NJ Advance Media on Saturday that Rodriguez-Gregg had been upset that the cops were focusing on her and not on the driver who rear-ended her.