DWI News

May 20, 2019

Drivers Using Prescription Opioids Twice as Likely to be in Deadly Car Crash

If you have been arrested for or charged with drugged driving, you need to contact a reputable and diligent New Jersey DWI attorney immediately. Not only do these charges have the potential to ruin your reputation, a conviction could jeopardize your current and future educational, housing and employment opportunities. Understanding how high the stakes are, we will aggressively advocate for you every step of the way.

Unless you or someone close to you has struggled with opioid addiction, it can be easy to overlook the seriousness of the problem. A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) revealed that drivers using prescribed opioids are 2.18 times more likely to be in fatal two-vehicle crashes than those who are not using the drugs. The study examined 18,321 driver pairs who lost their lives in two-vehicle crashes between 1993 and 2016. The findings revealed that 54.7 percent of the drivers who died tested positive for prescription opioids and these drivers caused the crash because they veered out of their lane. Sadly, crash initiators with prescription opioids in their system have increased from 2 percent in 1993 to 7.1 percent in 2016. Research shows that opioids can seriously impair a driver’s ability to drive safely causing them to feel woozy, sleepy or even sedated.

Under New Jersey law, a person can be charged with driving under the influence of drugs if the prosecutor can establish that the person was impaired while operating a motor vehicle. This is true even if the drug was an over-the-counter or prescription drug. In other words, you can be charged with a DWI so long as the prosecutor can show that the drug impaired your ability to drive safely.
Continue reading

April 11, 2019

Phone Addicts are a Bigger Threat on the Road than Drunk Drivers, Study Says

by Jonathan F. Marshall

Any person charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) in New Jersey is undoubtedly facing a stressful ordeal that can have potentially life-changing consequences. If you have been arrested or charged with a DWI, you need to consult a dependable New Jersey DWI lawyer immediately. A DWI is an extremely serious offense that can result in significant penalties and other negative consequences, especially if you are convicted.

A new study by Zendrive, a driving behavior analytics company, found that phone addicts are extremely dangerous behind the wheel, replacing drunk drivers as the ultimate threat on public roads. In fact, drivers nationally are 10 percent more distracted now than they were in 2018, according to the study. In addition, pedestrian deaths are at a 30-year-high, mainly because of distracted driving. The data revealed that individuals who cannot put their phone down actually get behind the wheel more. Specifically, they spend 150% more time on the road and drive 760% more miles than the average US driver. Essentially, it is virtually impossible to avoid distracted drivers on the road. While midnight to 3 a.m. is the known window to watch out for drunk drivers, phone addicts on the road are significantly impaired 24-7.

While distracted driving may be a bigger problem than drunk driving on the roads, drunk driving is still a major problem. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 10,874 deaths in motor vehicle crashes involving drunk drivers in 2017. This totalled 29 percent of all traffic fatalities for that year. In New Jersey, a driver is considered to be alcohol-impaired when his or her blood alcohol concentration is .08 grams per deciliter or higher. A driver can also be charged with a DWI if he or she is operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs. Any drugs, whether they are prescription, over-the-counter or illegal, can form the basis of a New Jersey DWI if they are thought to have diminished a person’s ability to drive safely.

April 4, 2019

New Jersey Man Who Flipped his Car Onto Lawn Charged with Drunk Driving

by Jonathan F. Marshall

DWI charges should never be taken lightly. If you have been arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) because you failed a field sobriety test, our highly skilled New Jersey DWI attorneys can help. Just because you failed the test does not automatically mean you were intoxicated and it certainly does not mean you will be convicted in court. With extensive experience in this area of law, our attorneys understand which defenses to use in your case.

A 40-year-old man was recently charged with a DWI after he crashed his car in Madison. According to law enforcement, an officer was dispatched to the scene for a single vehicle accident. Upon arrival, the officer discovered a red Ford Explorer upside down on the front lawn of a residence. The driver was standing outside of the vehicle and the police officer said he observed signs of impairment. The man was asked to perform a field sobriety test, which he failed, and was ultimately arrested and charged.

In New Jersey, drivers with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher are considered alcohol-impaired under the law. Police officers will sometimes administer a Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST) to determine whether a driver is impaired. In administering the test, police are looking for signs of intoxication by testing the driver’s coordination. You have the right to refuse to perform a field sobriety test although the police officer will most likely not tell you that. In addition, you should know that refusing to take the test would likely lead to you being arrested.

March 27, 2019

Man and Woman Charged with DWI by Hoboken Police on St. Patrick’s Day

by Jonathan F. Marshall

If you have been charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) either because of drugs or alcohol, you need to contact a New Jersey DWI defense lawyer as soon as you can. Whether it is your first offense or you have had prior convictions, we can help. We know the stakes are high, which is why we are committed to vigorously defending the rights of our clients from the moment we are hired.

Hoboken Police charged a New York man and a Jersey City woman with DWIs in separate incidents on St. Patrick’s Day. The 34-year-old man was pulled over when a police officer saw him speeding. When the police officer approached the man’s vehicle, there was an odor of alcohol emanating from the window. The man refused to do a breath test and failed field sobriety test.

That same day, a 25-year-old woman was charged with a DWI after her Jeep was involved in an accident with another car. The officers in that case said they could smell alcohol on the woman’s breath and also saw a cup that they believe contained alcohol inside the vehicle. Officers described the woman as being slow, dazed and confused. She failed a field sobriety test and her blood alcohol content (BAC) was determined to be over the legal limit once she provided a breath sample at the police station.

March 20, 2019

Man Who Hit and Struck Atlantic Highlands Couple Charged with DWI

by Jonathan F. Marshall

If you or a loved has been charged with reckless driving or driving while intoxicated (DWI) in New Jersey, you need to reach an experienced New Jersey DWI attorney who can help. Charges of reckless driving, especially when coupled with other charges, are extremely serious and can be very difficult to navigate. With wide-ranging experience in this area of law, we know how to protect your rights, including having many strategies that we can employ to help minimize the consequences of your arrest.

A man who struck and killed a couple trying to cross a street in Monmouth County last week has been charged with a DWI and reckless driving. The victims, a 60-year-old man and his 59-year-old wife were attempting to cross the street from the north side of the intersection when they were struck by the driver’s Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo, which was traveling eastbound on the highway. The tragic accident took place around 7:50 p.m. and both victims died from their injuries. The driver was uninjured and remained at the scene. Their community loved the couple and an upcoming memorial service has been planned. They were soon to be grandparents as one of their adult children had a baby on the way. Continue reading

March 14, 2019

Most New Jersey Police Officers are not trained to Identify Drug Impairment, Article Says

by Jonathan F. Marshall

Whether you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, driving while intoxicated (DWI) is a serious criminal offense with the potential for severe penalties in New Jersey. If you have been arrested for a drug-related DWI, you need to contact a seasoned New Jersey DWI attorney immediately. Our team has years of experiencing defending the rights of those charged with DWIs. We will examine every facet of your case to build the strongest defense on your behalf.

Statistics from the New Jersey Police highlights that in 2016, New Jersey police arrested 23,579 people suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The figures were not categorized by whether the driver was suspected of being intoxicated by alcohol or drugs, or both. A report by AAA Northeast last year indicated that 19 percent of drivers who died in car wrecks in New Jersey in 2016 tested positive for marijuana although those tests did not indicate if the driver was impaired at the time of the crash.

Currently, there is no dependable way to assess impairment caused by marijuana. The legalization bill in the state also does not outline a legal standard by which to measure impairment; rather, it relied on existing practices for judging whether drivers might be intoxicated. According to the National Institutes of Health, the best indication of driver impairment is observation by trained drug recognition experts (DRWs) in the field, not a blood test.

February 14, 2019

Man Crashes Bergen County Owned Dump Truck into Multiple Cars While Drunk

by Jonathan F. Marshall

For truck drivers who rely on their New Jersey commercial driver’s license (CDL) to earn a living, a DWI conviction can have devastating and far-reaching consequences. If you possess a CDL and have been charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI), it is vital that you speak to a seasoned New Jersey DWI attorney immediately. There is too much at stake for you to try to resolve this matter on your own and a legal advocate can aggressively fight for your rights.

Dump Truck Driver Charged with DWI

A Bergen County employee from Emerson was recently charged with a DWI for driving a Bergen County-owned dump truck while intoxicated and colliding into 10 vehicles. The driver was trying to get the dump truck out of a garage when the vehicle became stuck in the low garage exit as he tried to turn on the street. The truck ended up ripping through the ceiling causing heavy damage to the roof and hitting multiple vehicles that were parked inside the garage. According to law enforcement, the driver fled the scene of the accident. In addition to a DWI, the driver was charged with possession of controlled dangerous substances and leaving the scene of an accident.

February 6, 2019

Medical Marijuana Users Routinely Drive Drunk, Survey Says

by Jonathan F. Marshall

It is obvious that you should not drink and drive. However, when it comes to medical marijuana, people often use the drug and get behind the wheel a short while later not realizing this behavior can also lead to a driving while intoxicated (DWI) charge. If you or a family member is facing DWI prosecution, our trusted New Jersey DWI attorneys can help. With extensive experience in criminal defense law, we understand how to vigorously defend your rights and make sure you obtain all the protections afforded by New Jersey law.

The Survey

Researchers at the University of Michigan Addiction Center recently surveyed 790 Michigan adults who used medical marijuana for chronic pain in 2014 and 2015 about their driving habits over the last six months. According to the report, 56 percent admitted to driving within two hours of using marijuana, 51 percent reported to driving while a “little high” and 21 percent stated that they drove “very high.” Since medical marijuana is legal in almost three-dozen states – this can have serious implications for individuals on the road.

January 30, 2019

New Jersey Police Officer’s Car Hit By Drunk Driver

by Jonathan F. Marshall

A drunk driving charge can cost you big time – both in terms of time and money. If you have been arrested or charged with a driving while intoxicated (DWI), it is imperative to speak to a knowledgeable New Jersey DWI attorney who can help defend your rights. The stakes are very high in these cases and a DWI conviction could adversely impact virtually every aspect of your life. With extensive experience, we are prepared to vigorously defend you against a DWI charge.

A Brick Township police officer was hurt after an alleged drunk driver hit his patrol car last month. The officer was engaged in a motor vehicle stop and was inside of his car when he was hit. The impact led to the windshield of the officer’s car shattering and caused extensive damage to the driver’s side of the vehicle. The driver who caused the accident was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated as well as assault by auto, along with other traffic violations, according to police. The injured police offer was taken to the hospital for treatment and was released shortly thereafter. This was the second Brick Township officer struck during a traffic stop in a four-month time span.

New Jersey DWI Laws

A DWI conviction carries different penalties depending on a number of factors, including the BAC level, whether it was your first or subsequent DWI and whether anyone was hurt or not. It is important to note, however, that even a first-time conviction can result in a jail sentence, hefty fines and the loss of your driver’s license.

January 23, 2019

Off Duty New Jersey Trooper Catches Drunk Driver Trying to Leave Accident Scene

by Jonathan F. Marshall

Whether it a minor accident or one more serious, a motorist has an obligation to remain at the scene of the accident or they may open themself up to “hit and run” liability. This liability can be significantly more serious if the fleeing driver was intoxicated. If you have been arrested for drunk driving, whether you left the scene or not, we can help. Our New Jersey DWI attorneys will vigorously advocate for your rights and try to get you the best possible results in your case.

An off-duty New Jersey state trooper helped nab a drunk driver trying to escape the scene of an accident on foot. Law enforcement said the 44-year-old driver was drunk when his car sideswiped a van. The individuals in the van were not injured. Immediately after the crash and without warning, the driver ran from the scene. At that time, the off-duty trooper who had witnessed the accident got out of his own vehicle and chased the impaired driver, catching the driver and holding him until police arrived.

Fleeing the Scene of an Accident While Under the Influence

Under New Jersey law, if you are involved in a wreck, you are required by law to remain at the scene of any accident where there is property damage, injury or death until you have exchanged identifying information with the other parties involved in the accident. In addition, if injury, death or more than $500 worth of property damage occurs as a result of an accident – an official police report must be filed.