New Jersey DWI Lawyer Blog

With the coming holiday weekend police agencies around the Garden State will be on a heightened alert for partiers and other people driving while intoxicated between picnics and family gatherings. Regardless of the bad economy, drunken driving arrests and summonses are certain to increase in the next couple weeks.

As a New Jersey DWI defense attorney and drunk driver lawyer, my job is to help motorists who have been arrested by state police, municipal patrolmen and other law enforcement personnel for DWI and drug DUI traffic offenses. Many of these arrests occur at so-called sobriety checkpoints, which are frequently set up throughout the New Jersey area.

As part of the upcoming drunk driving enforcement campaign, known as "Over the Limit, Under Arrest," police units have taken to the streets in an effort to cut the instances of driving while under the influence of alcohol or prescription drugs.

According to news reports, law enforcement agencies are already conducting patrols and operating DWI roadblocks until September 6. Police officers in will be cracking down on drunk drivers as part of this summer's campaign. The state and local effort is designed to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving through high-visibility police patrols and public education.

The New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety typically provides grants to local law enforcement agencies throughout the state to run these programs. As one report mentioned, the state's traffic safety division said that last year New Jersey saw 185 fatal DWI-related car crashes -- according to reports, that number represents nearly a third of the almost 600 fatal accidents statewide in 2009. Authorities reported that nearly 70 of those alcohol-related deaths happened during the summer.

Over the Limit, Under Arrest, NorthJersey.com, August 26, 2010

A recently passed law requires drivers under the age of 21 to place a red sticker on their vehicle's license plates. While the intent of the law appears to be a good-hearted attempt at traffic safety, as a New Jersey DWI defense attorney I tend to side with those claiming the $4 sticker will only invite unwarranted scrutiny and potential discrimination against a segment of the driving public.

When it comes to drunk driving enforcement, New Jersey State Police and municipal police officers are always on the lookout for motorists who may be operating their vehicles while impaired due to alcohol, prescription drugs or controlled dangerous substances (CDS). Young drivers who exhibit traffic behavior suggesting inebriation could quite possibly by singled out due to that red mark on their license plate.

According to an editorial, the new law that took effect on May 1 will must likely lead to discrimination against young drivers which probably wouldn't happen without a red dot. According to the author, New Jersey is one of the top ten safest states for teenage drivers. Referring to the 2001 law that established a curfew for teenagers and significantly decreased the teen driver accident rates, the editorial asks if there is any good reason to put another law into effect.

The law calls for $100 fine for any young driver who does not have the sticker on their plates. A percentage of students across the Garden State may feel that police will be prejudiced when deciding whom to pull over. While teenage driver accident rates due to distracted driving, alcohol use, speeding and other causes may be reduced somewhat, the law is likely to cause a lot of controversy.

Part of the uproar comes from those who point out that 18-year-olds are considered legal adults, so the law tends to separate these individuals from 21 and older adults. By 18, many students are heading off to college, living in dorms or apartments and are essentially functioning on their own. The author asks why this law should affect this small group of legal adults whose just happen to be younger than 21. This would result in subjecting adults to being treated as if they were still teenagers, when all of the while society continues to tell them to just grow up.

There are other concerns, such as making under-21 drivers more distinguishable to pedophiles, sex offenders and rapists who may tend to seek out younger people -- the red-dot sticker would only make it that much easier for criminals to prey on these individuals. The argument is whether or not traffic accident rates go down, will we see an increase in crimes against these younger people, such as rape and sexual assault.

Ultimately, the question is whether or not the effects of the law itself will be worse than the claimed improvements in traffic safety. With the law in effect, only time will tell if New Jersey's lawmakers have made the right decision.

A red dot on cars, HSJ.org, May 4, 2010

Being drunk on the road is always a risky scenario. But as a New Jersey drunk driving defense lawyer and former municipal prosecuting attorney, I know that many Motorists get caught up in DWI arrests unexpectedly. Understanding that being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol is just the start of a long process is fine, but knowing that being convicted of driving while intoxicated is something you should avoid if at all possible.

The following may help some motorists in the Garden State avoid the pitfalls and legal troubles of being arrested, charged and convicted of drunken driving. Of course, the entire process starts with being pulled over for impaired driving in the first place. Whether you are eventually charged with DWI, drug DUI, breath test refusal, or other drunk driving violation, a traffic stop comes first.

Some people wonder is under what circumstances a patrolman can pull them over for driving drunk. While the officer in charge may not initially be aware of your alcohol consumption or prescription drug use, he can stop you for any number of reasons associate with violations of traffic law.

For instance, the policeman may actually see you running through a traffic light or even make a lane change without signaling. It's well known that certain vehicle maneuvers are signatures of a driver operating under the influence of beer, wine, hard liquor or prescription drugs. These suspicious driving patterns include drifting across the center line, weaving into and out of traffic lanes, driving well below the speed limit, or slowing and speeding up for no apparently legitimate reason.

Whenever a patrolman observes these and other so-called erratic driving behaviors, he may decide to make a completely legal traffic stop to observe you and your vehicle more closely.

Once a law enforcement officer has you stopped by the roadside, he or she will likely ask several questions. Whether you must answer these queries depends on the actual information be requested. You do not have to answer all questions put to you by an officer, but some you are legally required to answer, such as your name, age and whether you have a valid driver's license.

It is important to remember that police officers do not have to read you your Miranda rights until after an arrest has been made. Up until that point, the officer will probably attempt to illicit an incriminating statement from you, such as an admission that you were just coming back from a party or that you had been drinking. Gathering this type of information will help the municipal prosecutor to prove the DWI charges against you in a court of law and likely secure a conviction for drunken driving.

In New Jersey the law covering underage drinking and driving leaves little to the imagination. An individual must be 21 years of age or older to buy, be in possession or consume any type of alcohol-containing drink or beverage. In short: underage drinking is unequivocally defined as illegal. Because the state has such a strong stance against underage drinking, the legal consequences for this activity are severe under New Jersey law, especially when it comes to operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

Whether or not a youth is stopped for DWI, simply being convicted of drinking as a minor could affect that child's future driving privileges. As a New Jersey drunk driving defense lawyer, I know the negative impact that DWI and underage DWI can have on an individual now and in the future. For kids, this is not an area of the law they would want to experience. As a parent, it would behoove you to talk to your child about the consequences of underage drinking and underage DWI.

In this state, if a person under 21 years old is arrested for purchasing or consuming an alcoholic drink in an establishment licensed to sell alcohol, he or she could be fined $500, as well as lose their driver's license for up to six months. Parents take note here, because even if your child does not yet have a driver's license that potential suspension will start when the youngster is first eligible to receive his or her license. Furthermore, a young person who violates underage drinking laws may also be required by the court to attend an alcohol treatment or education program.

Anyone under 21 caught with even the slightest amount of alcohol in their system -- that is, a blood-alcohol content of 0.01 or more -- will be subject to: 1) the loss or postponement of driving privileges for 30 to 90 days; 2) fifteen to 30 days of community service; and 3) Successful completion of the program requirements of an Intoxicated Driver Resource Center or an alcohol education and highway safety program.

The Law Offices of John F. Marshall has a great deal of experience defending youngsters charged with underage DWI. I personally have been defending clients in New Jersey Municipal Courts for 15 years. Having worked as a municipal prosecutor earlier in my career, I know first-hand how the prosecution tends to approach such cases.

The coming holiday season is well known for its parties and family gatherings, and despite the poor economy drunk driving arrests are sure to surge during the next few weeks. In response, New Jersey DWI enforcement units are taking to the streets in an effort to reduce the instance of driving while intoxicated. As leading drunk driving defense lawyers, my firm has experience in a wide range of DWI and drug DUI defense. Recent news of the "Over the Limit, Under Arrest" campaign is evidence that drunk driving patrols will be working overtime in the Garden State.

According to news reports, law enforcement agencies across the state are already conducting saturation patrols and operating sobriety checkpoints, also known as sobriety roadblocks, as part of the nationwide drunk driving campaign. Enforcement will continue, say police, through January 3, 2010.

New Jersey's Division of Highway Traffic Safety is funding the local initiative, which began in 1999. According to reports, the division provides $5,000 grants to law enforcement agencies to cover overtime for those officers assigned to DWI patrols or checkpoints.

To illustrate the extent of the effort, 110 Jersey police agencies will receive grants, according to Pam Fischer, the division's director. The campaign will also include the New Jersey State Police.

A police spokesperson indicated that the holiday DWI crackdown will see officers on the street spending about four hours looking for "possible alcohol-impaired drivers" along with their regular patrols. "It's important that we keep everybody safe on the roads, especially near the holidays," said Vineland police Sgt. Vince Solazzo of the city's Traffic Safety Unit.

Police remind the public that last year, 11,773 people across the United States died in crashes involving a drunk driving, this is according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). According to reports, New Jersey saw 165 people killed in alcohol-related crashes in 2008, down from 195 in '07.

Extra drunken-driving patrols coming to South Jersey, CourierPostOnline.com, December 8, 2009

According to a recent news report, drivers in Middlesex County will see more drunk driving checkpoints, sometimes referred to as sobriety roadblocks, at all times of the year. The state of New Jersey has funded the operation of additional checkpoints with a $43,000 grant. Normally, the county would have sobriety roadblocks during certain holidays, however now it appears they will be a more permanent fixture.

As a New Jersey DWI defense lawyer, I have represented numerous motorists who have received summonses or been arrested for drunk driving or breath test refusal. While these checkpoints may reduce the number of drunk driving arrests in an area over time, they also can result in people being falsely accused of driving while under the influence of alcohol.

This latest announcement shows that Middlesex County, NJ, will be expanding its holiday DWI checkpoint program to year-round enforcement. The program will be supported in part by a $43,000 grant from the state Office of Highway Traffic Safety. According to news reports, these DWI checkpoints are very costly to run mainly because they require police officers to work overtime, plus there are additional costs for setting up and maintaining the roadblocks over the course of an evening to the early morning hours.

The grant will help pay for the cost to station officers randomly throughout the county.

Members of the Fatal Crash Investigation Unit (FCIU) will be used in the program. These investigators have a vast amount of experience in reviewing fatal crashes in the area. According to reports, a small percentage of fatal crashes -- which are at a record low of just 42 incidents -- are related to alcohol or drug impairment. However, authorities are quoted as saying that a large portion of the alcohol-impaired crashes involve drivers between the ages of 17 to 21 years.

DWI checkpoints will be set up year-round, Suburban.GMNews.com, November 5, 2009

As a New Jersey DWI defense attorney and former municipal prosecutor, I use my vast background in drunk driving law to help motorists accused of driving under the influence of alcohol. I always maintain that individuals charged with drunk driving, prescription drug DUI or breath test refusal to retain a qualified legal professional to see their case through the justice system. The following police reports are just a sample of the typical cases involving driving under the influence of alcohol.

Princeton Borough
A 68-year-old man from Princeton, NJ, was observed driving his vehicle in a suspicious manner. After police saw that the driver did not keep right, Princeton police officers pulled the suspect over on Chambers Street just before 1:30am. He was evaluated and charged with driving while intoxicated and taken into custody.

A woman from Lawrenceville was pulled over on Bayard Lane by a police patrol car in the early morning hours for a routine traffic stop due to a burned out brake light. The officer in charge determined that the 28-year-old was allegedly impaired and arrested her for DWI.

West Windsor
Another Lawrenceville resident was stopped by police after he was observed having difficulty maintaining his lane on southbound Route 1 at Alexander Road. The 25-year-old was given several field sobriety tests to determine his level of impairment and concluded to be driving under the influence of alcohol. Police charged the man with DWI, reckless driving, failure to maintain a lane, and failure to signal a lane change.

A 22-year-old Monroe Township resident was stopped by police after his vehicle was observed traveling in excess of the posted speed limit in the early morning hours. The incident occurred on northbound Route 1 near Harrison Street. Police pulled the man over for speeding and determined that he was also intoxicated. After failing a battery of field sobriety tests, officers arrested the driver for DWI, reckless driving, speeding and failure to keep right.

Plainsboro
A Middlesex County resident was stopped on northbound Route 1 by patrol officers because of a burned out headlamp on his 1997 Toyota Camry. During the stop, which occurred around 3:30am, officers found the 20-year-old driver to be intoxicated. In addition to receiving a citation for defective equipment, he was arrested for underage DWI and reckless driving.

A 27-year-old local woman was charged with DWI after a traffic stop on Plainsboro Road. She was pulled over shortly before 2am for speeding and failure to maintain her lane of travel, according to police reports. She was issued summonses for DWI, failure to maintain lane and reckless driving.

POLICE BLOTTER: Princeton, W. Windsor, Montgomery, Plainsboro, CentralJersey.com, September 28, 2009

Drivers across the New Jersey area, including Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Atlantic counties, may see an increase in police presence on the state's highways and surface streets during this coming Saturday, October 10. In a nationwide campaign known as "Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day," law enforcement agencies will be out in force looking for traffic violations and targeting zero fatalities for one full day. This effort may include sobriety checkpoints in various areas.

As a citizen of New Jersey, as well as a DWI defense attorney, I am always happy to see traffic deaths decrease. However, I know that some motorists can get a raw deal from local and state police during campaigns such as this. That is why I always encourage people arrested for drunk driving to contact a legal professional for advice and counsel.

According to news reports, "Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day" will see police departments statewide emphasizing and enforcing all traffic laws, including seatbelt usage, obeying the posted speed limit, avoiding distractions such as cellphone use while driving, and not getting behind the well when intoxicated.

Police data show that 591 individuals died in traffic accidents in New Jersey just last year. While this number may seem high, it represents a 19-percent decline from 2007, and also marks the lowest number of recorded motor vehicle deaths in the state since 1948, according to reports.

As with last year's campaign, law enforcement agencies throughout the state will be reporting crash information -- such as total number of crashes, injuries crashes and fatalities -- for the 24-hour period of October 10. Police will convey that information to the Division of Highway Traffic Safety, the state's lead traffic safety agency. The division will then compile and post this information on its website.

Approximately 66 percent of the 496 police agencies in the state, as well as the state police, reported crash data following last year's "Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day." A total of 1,065 crashes took place in New Jersey on that day, resulting in 201 injuries and two fatalities.

Lower Township Police promote annual Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day, ShoreNewsToday.com, September 24, 2009

A Woodbridge, NJ, man was sentenced to eight years in prison recently for a fatal drunk driving accident that killed a Perth Amboy patrolman. Sean McGuirk, 25, received his sentence in a New Brunswick courtroom on September 17 for the August 2008 crash that killed 31-year-old Thomas Raji and injured two other people. Although there are many kinds of drunk driving charges, as a New Jersey DWI defense lawyer I will say that the most serious cases involve injury accidents and fatal wrecks.

McGuirk's sentence also shows what can happen when a motorist drives drunk and kills a law enforcement officer. This case was tragic and can only serve as a reminder that drinking heavily and operating a motor vehicle are not compatible.

On August 21, 2008, McGuirk was admittedly drunk when he left the Big Shots Bar in Woodbidge and got into his car. According to court records, he had been drinking for four hours starting around 11pm. He said he had "five or six drinks" before leaving for home at about 3:30am. He had testified that he also had alcohol in his car.

Driving south on Green Street, McGuirk ignored the red traffic signals of both the northbound and southbound crossings at the Route 1 intersection, where he broadsided a Perth Amboy police cruiser carrying Raji, another officer and a prisoner being transported to the Middlesex County Jail.

Traveling 45 to 50 miles an hour in a 25-mph zone, McGuirk's vehicle impacted the driver's side of the cruiser. The force of the crash critically injured Raji, seriously injured the 44-year-old Mercurio and caused lesser injuries to the prisoner in the back seat.

Raji was airlifted to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, where he was pronounced dead. The officer, who took much of the impact, suffered brain hemorrhaging, broken arms and ribs and multiple internal injuries.

Mercurio had to leave the police force due to injuries received that day. He reportedly still suffers from a brain injury and double vision, as well as chronic pain from having so many broken bones -- most of the bones in his face were broken and he needed surgery to rebuild his eye sockets.

Following the crash, McGuirk's blood-alcohol content (BAC) was measured at 0.13 percent, considerably higher than the legal limit of 0.08 percent. He was charged with vehicular manslaughter and two counts of assault by auto and driving while intoxicated. The state agreed to recommend the dismissal of aggravated manslaughter as well as two counts of aggravated assault. The state also agreed to recommend a sentence of eight years.

8 years for man who killed cop in crash, ABCLocal.com, September 17, 2009

Death driver hears of lives he wrecked, NJ.com, September 18, 2009

The drunk driving defense lawyers from The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall defend New Jersey Motorists against DWI, breath test refusal and drug DUI charges. The following police reports for communities in Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset counties reflect the types of cases my firm typically handles on a regular basis. A conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol can severely impact a person's current job and future career prospects, not to mention his or her standing in the community, as well as personal and business relationships.

West Windsor

Plainsboro

Continue reading "New Jersey Drug DUI-DWI Update: Police Blotter for Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset Counties" »

Representing motorists charged with DWI, my staff of drunk driving defense lawyers cover much of the New Jersey area including Middlesex County. Recently, I noticed a news article that stated East Brunswick police would be working undercover in local liquor stores as part of a federally-funded effort to catch underage drinkers.

If any of those youngsters gets in a car and drives under the influence of alcohol, the police can also charge them with underage DWI. When is comes to underage drunk driving, New Jersey has a zero-tolerance policy. While the legal limit for blood-alcohol content (BAC) in an adult driver is 0.08 percent, New Jersey statute N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.14 makes it illegal for an individual under 21 years of age to have any alcohol in their system while operating a motor vehicle.

Although it is illegal for anyone under 21 to have any trace of alcohol in their system, the monetary penalties and suspension period for underage driving while intoxicated are less severe than for adults facing similar charges. An underage drinking and driving conviction in New Jersey can involve as little as 30 days license suspension, however the minimum suspension for an adult DWI is 90 days.

More importantly, if a young person is convicted of underage DWI, DUI or breath test refusal, the impact can be even more significant for a child versus an adult. An underage drinking and driving charge is serious and should not be dismissed. If a child of yours has been arrested for underage DWI, contact a qualified legal professional to handle their case.

In regard to the latest sting operations in and around East Brunswick, the program has been dubbed "Cops in Shops," and will continue throughout 2010 with officers posing as customers or employees at local liquor stores throughout the township.

Reportedly, all four of the township's package liquor stores have agreed to participate in the program and will post fliers warning buyers that undercover officers may be nearby. East Brunswick has received $6,000 in federal funds to pay for the assignments, which are also meant to catch adults who buy alcohol for youngsters.

According to news reports, East Brunswick police made 57 arrests for underage drinking in 2008. That included arrests for drunk driving as well as underage drinking at house parties. The number of arrests for underage drinking in 2007 totaled 76, while there were only 60 in 2006.

East Brunswick cops go undercover to catch underage drinkers, DailyRecord.com, August 29, 2009

If there is one thing I remind people arrested for DWI and other drunk driving violations, don't make things worse by pulling another person in on your mistake. Of course, an adult is fully capable of deciding if he wants to ride with someone who is obviously intoxicated, but a child, well that's a different story. As a New Jersey drunk driving lawyer, I and my staff of experienced DWI attorneys have represented clients charged with a wide range of offenses in addition to driving under the influence of alcohol, or prescription or illegal drug DUI.

A recent news article is an example of the trouble that a driver can get into when not considering the safety of his or her passengers. Apparently a 22-year-old Plainfield man was arrested for driving while intoxicated after crashing his vehicle in the driveway of a Dunellen home late in the evening of August 3.

According to police, Stanley Brown of 127 Prospect Avenue was arrested by borough police after he allegedly crashed a 1994 Nissan Maxima along the driveway as he was trying to leave the locale around 11 p.m. Officers were called to the scene by concerned neighbors, who told officers that the man had fled the vehicle and was in the backyard of the house.

According to reports, the police found a five-year-old boy sitting on the back seat of the car, but not in a child-restraint seat. The child was identified as the son of Brown's girlfriend. Officers then searched and found the man in the backyard, where they also detected the odor of alcohol on his breath.

After having the man take a series of field sobriety tests, which he allegedly failed, police administered a breathalyzer test and found the man's blood alcohol content (BAC) to be 0.19 percent -- double the legal limit in New Jersey. Brown was then arrested and transported to the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick.

Police said that child's condition was evaluated by the Dunellen First Aid Squad and was determined to be unhurt. The boy was returned to the custody of his mother, and Brown was also charged with child endangerment.

Continue reading "Plainfield Man Arrested for Drunk Driving in Middlesex County, Charged with Child Endangerment" »

West Windsor Township -- In a potential marijuana DWI traffic stop a 17-year-old Hamilton, New Jersey, resident was stopped on a Saturday night along Route 1 by police for a routine traffic offense. The teenager was found to have a small amount of the controlled substance, or weed, in his vehicle and charged with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana. After the stop, which occurred near Emmons Drive, the man was placed under arrest and taken to police headquarters for processing. He was later released to the custody of his mother.

West Windsor Township -- Two potential drug DUI arrests were also made on Route 1, just days apart. A 29-year-old Hamilton man traveling southbound was pulled over on a Sunday morning for a traffic violation near Quakerbridge Road. During the stop, officers discovered a small amount of cocaine in the car. The man was subsequently charged with possession of that controlled substance. Several days later, a 21-year-old resident of Trenton, New Jersey, was stopped in the early morning hours for a traffic infraction near Meadow Road. Following the traffic stop on the northbound side of Route 1, police found evidence of drugs and charged the man with possession of cocaine.

Plainsboro -- On an early Friday morning, a Willingboro resident traveling in a 2004 Acura was stopped for doing 75mph in a 55mph zone on southbound Route 1. The 23-year-old man, who was found to be intoxicated, was charged with drunk driving, speeding, reckless driving, failure to maintain a single lane and failure to carry auto insurance. He was released pending a future court date.

Plainsboro -- A 22-year-old man from Monroe, NJ, was charged with DWI after a traffic stop on eastbound Scudders Mill Road in the early morning hours. Police pulled the man over for running a red light and failure to maintain lane. He was placed under arrest and charged with DWI, reckless driving, failure to observe signal and failure to maintain lane.

Plainsboro -- A Jackson man was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol following a Wednesday evening traffic stop along westbound Plainsboro Road. An officer observed the 50-year-old driver apparently unable to maintain his lane of travel. The driver was subsequently pulled over and issued several field sobriety tests, which he failed. Deemed to be intoxicated, police arrested the man and charged him with DWI, reckless driving, failure to maintain lane and failure to wear a seat belt.

POLICE BLOTTER: Princeton, West Windsor, Plainsboro, CentralJersey.com, July 6, 2009

People drink for all sorts of reasons, many times because they are unhappy with life or feel that they are in a situation from which there is no escape. As a New Jersey drunk driving defense lawyer, I know that many people accused of DWI are not necessarily thinking clearly, and not just because of the physical affects of alcohol. A recent news article brought this home when I read that a woman from Middlesex County had tried to kill herself in Bridgewater Township.

According to police reports, Kathleen Hoffman, a resident of South Plainfield, was sitting in her Chevrolet Corvette at a scenic overlook near Route 78 in the early afternoon last Tuesday. Apparently distraught, the 55-year-old then crashed her sports car though a wood barrier, through a metal fence and down a steep wooded embankment, causing the car to roll several times before coming to rest at the bottom.

By the time rescuers arrived at the scene, she was trapped but still alive. Emergency workers had to cut her out of the vehicle, after which she was airlifted to nearby Morris Memorial Hospital where she was treated for moderate injuries. Thankfully, nobody else was injured in the incident, although it did tie up traffic on Route 78 for quite sometime.

Police reportedly charged the woman not only with attempted suicide, but also with drunk driving. Considering her act of apparent desperation, this lady likely needs some intensive counseling as well as an experienced DWI attorney. My office has handled numerous cases where an individual was charged with drunk driving, but did so as a result of difficult life circumstances. Nobody can excuse a person for putting others at risk, but as this story shows, there may be a deeper reason for a person's actions that should at least be considered in the overall picture.

South Plainfield woman accused of DWI in Bridgewater crash, NJ.com, July 8, 2009

Middlesex County, New Jersey, has renewed its initiative to combat drunk driving during the Prom and Graduation season this year. In this regard, periodic checkpoints shall be set up throughout Middlesex County during the month of May and June. The target locations for the DWI roadblocks shall coincide with the prom and graduation schedules throughout the County.

The DUI detail shall be comprised of local police officers and members of the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office Vehicular Fatality Team. The program is over two decades old and is funded through a grant from the State. The program appears to have been successful in preventing alcohol related deaths insofar as there have been no such incidents in the County during the Prom and Graduation season for quite a time period.

Our DWI attorneys have occasion to represent many underage motorist every year in drunk driving cases. The pivotal thing that most of the public fails to understand is that NJ law has a no tolerance policy for alcohol consumption by minors. The result is a New Jersey Underage drinking and driving law which is triggered when a motorist under the age of 21 has any alcohol in his system whatsoever.

There is no blood alcohol threshold for someone underage. What this means is that if an underage driver is operating a motor vehicle with any alcohol in his system, he can be convicted of Underage DWI.

Thankfully, the punishment, penalties, and long-term consequences of an Underage DWI can be much different from those of an adult in New Jeersey. It is therefore crucially important that any finding of guilt in one of these cases involve the underage dwi statute as opposed to the normal DWI statute (i.e. an underage motorist is usually charged with both if his or her blood alcohol is over the legal limit of 0.08).