Retired Boca Raton Police Officer Eric Van Hof Arrested
BOCA RATON, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2023) — A retired Boca Raton Police Officer was arrested for DUI in Jupiter after refusing sobriety tests.
According to an arrest affidavit submitted by the Jupiter Police Department, at about 8 PM on Sunday, May 14th, 2023, a Jupiter Police Officer was driving an unmarked patrol vehicle when he was passed by a Genesis sedan. The officer quickly determined that the Genesis was speeding, 64MPH in a 45MPH zone. The officer then activated his emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop. The vehicle pulled over but continued to crawl for about 300 feet, the officer says. The vehicle eventually stopped.
As the officer asked for identification, the driver, identified as Eric Van Hof, declared that he had a firearm under his seat. Van Hof then produced his driver’s license but not before putting a “retired” Police ID card on top of it and then removing the card. The officer asked what the “retired” card was all about to which Van Hof responded he was a retired Boca Raton Police Department officer, most likely expecting some “professional courtesy”.
The officer then returned to his vehicle to run Van Hof’s information. The officer then advised Van Hof that he was concerned he may be driving under the influence. Van Hof admitted to drinking two beers but noted he did not feel the effect of the alcohol. The Jupiter PD officer insisted on performing field sobriety tests; however, Van Hof refused all of them. Van Hof also refused to provide a breath sample.
The Jupiter Police Officer could not dispel the suspicion of DUI and arrested Van Hof for DUI. Van Hof was later booked into the PBSO jail where he was released only 5 hours later, without bond.
Van Hof was charged with 316.193(1) TCATS DUI – NORMAL FACULTIES IMPAIRED.
According to court records, Van Hof was actively working as a Police Officer with Boca Raton Police Department up to 2018. Note, unlike any other member of the public, there is no mugshot available because Van Hof is a retired law enforcement officer and is offered privacy protection per FSS 119.071(4)(d)(2)(a).
