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New Jersey is a pretty tough state when it comes to drunk driving enforcement. Anyone who driver here regularly has seen the frequent late-night sobriety checkpoints and anti-DWI saturation patrols operated by the New Jersey State Police and local law enforcement departments. Quite frankly, as drunken driving defense lawyers representing drivers in Monmouth, Sussex, Passaic and Ocean County, there is no good reason to risk one’s future by getting behind the wheel of a car, truck or motorcycle while impaired by alcohol or other substances.

While driving under the influence of alcohol or doctor-prescribed medication may not be a motorists primary intention, the chances of being stopped for a minor traffic infraction raise the possibility of being slapped with a DWI summons. The best way to avoid this scenario is to avoid driving any time one has had something alcoholic to drink; calling a cab, getting a ride from a sober friend or family member, or just staying put over night is by far the better course, than to find oneself with summons in hand and a court date pending.

Some of the most common police traffic stops, such as illegal turn or failure to maintain one’s lane, can end up with a driver arrested and charged with driving under the influence. Whether the charge is alcohol-based or a drug DUI — such as prescription meds or illegal substances like cocaine or marijuana — the potential conviction can cost a driver plenty in terms of monetary fines and even jail time, depending on the circumstances.
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Regardless of which county one drives in — Passaic, Middlesex, Union or Mercer — a drunk driving arrest is only an errant lane change away, or for that matter a burned-out headlamp or rolling stop. The fact of the matter is, here in the Garden State, driving with even a couple drinks under one’s belt can quickly become a trip to police headquarters for a breathalyzer test and possible booking on charges of driving while intoxicated.

Naturally, drunken driving is one of the many traffic offenses out there, but impaired driving due to prescription medications or illicit drugs (drug DUI) are other ways in which a driver can find him or herself in trouble with the law. As New Jersey DWI defense lawyers, I and my colleagues have represented numerous motorists charged with driving under the influence of beer, wine or hard liquor.

As experienced drunken driving defense attorneys, my firm handles numerous drunken driving and drug DUI cases, as well as breath test refusal and underage drinking offenses. No matter where one lives or works in New Jersey, being arrested for DWI or DUI can be a serious matter and not to be taken lightly. The following police blotter items illustrate some of the typical drunk driving-related and other police arrests that occur on a regular basis throughout the state.
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If there is one thing that most people need to live and work in our modern age, outside of food and lodging, it might be a valid driver’s license. From the day we receive our learner’s permit — and later a full-fledged license — we begin to value the freedom of movement that driving a car or truck provides. However, for many people, the state can revoke, suspend or otherwise withhold a motorist’s driving privileges for certain convicted offenses.

Whether one lives in Monmouth, Ocean or Sussex County, for those caught up in a drunken driving arrest it is not so far flung of a statement to suggest that a temporary, and sometimes long-term, loss of their New Jersey driver’s license could be in the offing depending on the nature of the charges and the driver’s history of DWI, drug DUI, or other impaired driving offenses.

Considering the freedom and independence that a license imparts to an individual, it’s hardly worth tempting fate with a drunk driving arrest, much less a potential conviction. Still, circumstances can arise leaving a driver in the unenviable position of losing his or her driver’s license based on a local court’s ruling following a guilty verdict or guilty plea regarding charges of driving while intoxicated, or operating a motor vehicle while impaired by prescription medication.
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For argument’s sake, let’s posit that a Garden State motorist, who gets stopped for a routine traffic offense, ends up being charged with drunken driving in Monmouth County. After stopping the driver for some simple infraction, such as failure to signal or improper turn, the officer might begin to suspect that the driver has possibly had something to drink and is possibly impaired by beer or wine, maybe even prescription drugs (also known as drug DUI).

In any case, the patrolman may request the motorist to perform one or more of the standardized field sobriety tests established by the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA). If the suspect fails one or more of these tests, there’s a pretty good chance that his or her next stop is the local police headquarters for a breathalyzer test.

As New Jersey drunken driving defense attorneys, I and my staff know that being convicted for even a first-time DWI offense can impact a person’s life, financially, personally and sometimes even professionally. Jobs, relationships and reputations have been sullied as a result of an arrest for driving while intoxicated, much less for an actual conviction — if for only these reasons, it is a good idea to consult with a qualified drunk driving defense lawyer before stepping foot into a courtroom.

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It’s not surprising, with all the anti-drunken driving campaigns that target potentially impaired Garden State motorists every year, that New Jersey law enforcement agencies and our court system hold little love for drivers convicted of DWI or drug DUI. While use of illicit drugs, such as cocaine and marijuana, by some drivers is seen by police officers on a weekly basis, impaired driving as a result of alcohol consumption is likely much more common by the average citizen.

As New Jersey DWI defense lawyers, I and my staff of experienced drunken driving attorneys understand how quickly a driver can find him or herself on the receiving end of a DWI or DUI summons. When that day comes, it’s a good idea to consult with a qualified DWI attorney to better understand one’s options.

Naturally, it’s a given that being convicted of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated or otherwise impaired by alcohol, prescription drugs or other illegal substances (also know as controlled dangerous substances (CDS), will likely include some serious sanctions — namely heavy fines and other monetary penalties. But in addition to these financially costly penalties, the courts also have the ability, in many cases, to include a license suspension as part of the list of penalties the defendant will have to bear.

From the standpoint of fees, in general, anyone who is convicted of drunken driving in New Jersey can face fines upward of $1,000 for a single instance and penalties (including surcharges to a driver’s insurance premiums) of possibly $4,000 to $5,000 or more over the course of three years. This includes numerous fees for the DWI Enforcement Fund, MVC Restoration Charge, potential out-patient counseling, Safe Neighborhood Fund, Violent Crime Compensation Board Fund, not to mention court costs.
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We recently discussed the seriousness of a teenager’s conviction for underage DWI. While every parent faced with this type of situation should be rightly concerned, there are other areas of drunken driving defense law that one should also be cognizant of, such as the penalties and fines that adults can face following an arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol or prescription drugs (drug DUI).

As a New Jersey DWI defense lawyer, I can say that a conviction for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence — either by controlled dangerous substances (CDS) or alcohol — can carry with it some rather severe penalties. Anyone who is arrested for, charged with or accused of a DWI or drug DUI offense should seriously consider seeking the counsel of a qualified legal expert in the area of drunk driving law. An aggressive defense is important to pursue considering the harsh penalties and fines that New Jersey courts tend to levy on those convicted of drunken driving.

For individuals who are convicted of, or who plead guilty to, DWI or drug DUI charges, depending on the particular circumstances a defendant can face jail time, heavy fines, loss of their driver’s license, and the addition of future premium surcharges on their car insurance policy. Of course, penalties following a drunk driving or DUI conviction are dependant on whether that particular conviction is the individual’s first, second or subsequent DWI-DUI offense.
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While I and my legal staff are experienced in the defense of motorists accused of driving under the influence of alcohol, we fully understand the dangers of operating a motor vehicle while in an impaired state. Whether one lives in Morris, Ocean, Atlantic or Monmouth County, the law treats every potential offender with the same statutes, fines and penalties. As New Jersey DWI defense attorneys, my firm knows that when it comes to underage drinking and driving, the situation can be just as serious, and sometimes more so, than if the defendant was an adult.

Here in the Garden State, the law provides for a “zero-tolerance” policy where underage drinking and driving is concerned. As set forth in N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.14, it is against the law for an individual under the age of 21 years to have ANY alcohol in their system while driving a motor vehicle. On the upside, if one can call it that, the law stipulates more relaxed monetary penalties and suspension periods for a young person convicted of underage DWI; these penalties are certainly less severe for an underage offender than those that apply to a driver of legal drinking age convicted of driving while intoxicated.

When considering underage DWI convictions, penalties can include a driver’s license suspension period of as little as 30 days compared to that of an adult DWI conviction of 90 days, at a minimum. Please keep in mind that although the penalties are reduced, it is usually wise to consult a qualified drunken driving defense attorney prior to showing up in court with one’s child accused of underage DWI.
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Having worked both sides of the aisle — previously as a municipal prosecutor and now as a defense attorney — I understand the methods and strategies that the state’s attorneys employ to attain drunken driving convictions in court. As New Jersey DWI defense lawyer, I and my colleagues represent all manner of clients, many of whom have been accused of driving while intoxicated, operating a motor vehicle under the influence of prescription medications (drug DUI) and even illicit drugs, such as cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana.

One thing we know, as drunk driving defense attorneys, is that a DWI arrest (much less an actual conviction for impaired driving) can greatly affect one’s future employment, social standing, and family/marital relationships. While we understand that a drunk driving arrest is not desirable by any means, we also know that this does happen to many people, from all walks of life, and nearly every profession.

Surprisingly, even police officers can end up being arrested for drunken driving. From my years as a prosecuting attorney, I have a great respect for the hard work and dangers faced by our law enforcement officer every day. On the other hand, as a DWI defense attorney, I understand how easy it is for motorists to be accused of drunken driving here in the Garden State. What I cannot abide is when patrolmen and other officers of the court flout the very laws they are sworn to uphold and enforce.

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For anyone who has ever been stopped by police here in the Garden State for drunken driving, impaired driving due to prescription medication (aka drug DUI), or operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS), you know that the potential consequences could be harsh and have long lasting effects.

Of course, alcohol use is one of the most common “legal” pastimes in Bergen, Middlesex, Ocean and Hudson counties, however other illegal substances, such as cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana, are also being used by drivers on public roads. Of those illicit drugs, marijuana is without a doubt one of the more common illegal substances encountered by state and local police across New Jersey.

Arrests of drivers from all walks of life by New Jersey law enforcement officers for marijuana-related offenses are commonplace, which is not surprising in the least considering that an estimated 35 billion dollars’ worth of marijuana is cultivated in the United States each year. In fact, with medicinal marijuana becoming more prevalent, there is a good chance that more people than ever before probably know someone who uses marijuana legally or illegally from time to time.

Even so, persons who are arrested for marijuana use or possession in Monmouth, Sussex, Passaic or Atlantic counties should take very seriously any charges levied by police. Even though marijuana may be considered to be a rather low-level drug in the grand scheme of things, the New Jersey court system treats this CDS drug no differently than any other violation of state law.
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