Driving under the influence of alcohol in New Jersey is a traffic violation and is not considered to be a criminal offense. That means you won’t be held in jail overnight or be required to post bail if charged with driving drunk.
But just because driving under the influence of alcohol in New Jersey isn’t considered a criminal offense, there are still heavy penalties, fines, and punishments drivers may face if convicted of a DUI. The severity of punishment depends on how many prior DUI convictions someone might have.
The first time you are convicted of DUI you’ll be facing these penalties:
The second time you are convicted of DUI, you may be facing:
The third time you are convicted of DUI, you the penalties get even more harsh:
If convicted of a DUI in New Jersey, you won’t be left with a criminal record. However, the DUI will appear on your driving abstract, permanently.
The law in Atlantic County, NJ prohibits plea bargains when it comes to DUI offenses. That means you can’t plead guilty to a lesser charge. However, you should still find a DUI attorney in New Jersey to help defend you in court.
Lawyers who are experienced with DUI defense will review the entire police investigation to ensure all evidence provided is accurate and obtained legally. Your lawyer can review the arresting officer’s decision to pull you over. What led to the decision and why did the officer believe that you were driving under the influence? Was the breathalyzer working properly?
After reviewing all of the evidence, your lawyer can raise technical issues that may result in certain pieces of evidence not being considered by the court. That can result in your DUI case being dismissed completely or reducing the penalties you may be facing. That’s why it’s so important to hire a DUI attorney in New Jersey.
For more information about DWI And Refusal Penalty Chart, please click here.
Defense attorney Kevin Leckerman focuses solely DUI/DWI in defense in Atlantic County, NJ, Cherry Hill, and Camden County. He is an expert in all areas of DUI law and will sift through every last piece of evidence to find errors made by arresting officers, faulty breathalyzers, and violations of your rights. A DUI/DWI charge can having life-long ramifications. If you are charged with a DUI, contact Kevin Leckerman today.