Drinking and driving are two things that should never happen together. Alcohol can impair your ability to drive safely and cause you to have a serious accident. Having alcohol in your system while operating a motor vehicle is a criminal offense in the State of New Jersey. Police officers are trained to identify drivers who may have had too much to drink and administer tests to determine the level of alcohol in their systems. However, the police must follow certain rules and regulations so that your rights are protected.
If you were stopped for a suspected DWI (driving while intoxicated), you might need to defend yourself in a court of law. The potential penalties for being convicted of a DWI will vary depending on the level of alcohol in your system, whether anyone was injured while you were driving, and how many DWI offenses you were convicted of previously. Contact our Camden County DWI attorney at the Lombardo Law Group, LLC for help. Call (856) 281-9600 to schedule a free legal consultation.
Definition of a DWI in Camden County, NJ
A person who operates a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol may be guilty of a DWI offense. The nature of the charges against you, and the degree of the offenses charged, will depend on a number of factors. Generally, the more intoxicated you are, the harsher your charges will be. Also, someone convicted of their third or fourth DWI will have harsher charges than someone convicted of their first DWI.
In New Jersey, a person can be convicted of a DWI offense if their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is .08% or higher. The higher this number, the worse your charges will be. If a driver is pulled over for reckless driving and the officer suspects they are intoxicated with drugs rather than alcohol, this BAC standard does not apply. Instead, any amount of intoxicating drugs or controlled substances in a person’s system may result in a DWI charge. If you are facing a DWI charge, contact our Camden County DWI attorney immediately. We can assist you in fighting your charges and defending your rights.
Breathalyzer and Field Sobriety Tests for DWIs in Camden County
If you are stopped for a suspected DWI, the police may subject you to certain chemical testing such as a breathalyzer test. According to New Jersey law, a person gives consent to be tested in such a manner by virtue of driving their vehicle on New Jersey roadways. This is sometimes referred to as the implied consent law. You may refuse to undergo the test and the police will not force you to do so. However, there are additional legal consequences and penalties for refusing to submit to a breathalyzer. You may have your license suspended for a longer time than if you voluntarily submit to the breathalyzer. Our Camden County DWI attorney can help you defend your rights against a DWI charge in New Jersey.
Law enforcement may ask you to submit to other testing known as field sobriety tests. They may ask you to perform tasks such as walking in a straight line in order to determine if you are intoxicated. These tests are designed to help police determine if you are intoxicated, as someone with alcohol in their system may find these tasks difficult to perform. The police will not tell you that these tests are voluntary and you will not be penalized for refusing. If police tested you for suspicion of DWI, call our Camden County DWI attorney for help.
Penalties for a DWI in Camden County
For a first-time DWI offender, a BAC between .08% and .10% will face a fine between $250.00 and $400.00 and may be detained by police for no less than 12 hours but no more than 48 hours. A court may also sentence you to up to 30 days in jail. Additionally, the court can force you to surrender your driving privileges unless you install an ignition interlock device in your vehicle. The ignition interlock device will measure your BAC before allowing you to start your vehicle. If it detects any alcohol, it will prevent the car from starting. The higher your BAC when you are pulled over, the greater your fines will be.
For subsequent DWI offender, the penalties will be increased. For a second DWI, a defendant faces fines between $500.00 and $1,000.00, may be detained by police for no less than 48 hours and must give up their driving privileges for one to two years. After one to two years of license suspension, the defendant must apply to have their license back to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission’s Chief Administrator. This request will be granted or denied at the discretion of the Chief Administrator. Once you have your license back, you will have to install an ignition interlock device in your vehicle.
A third or subsequent DWI conviction will result in a fine of $1,000.00 and a prison term of no less than 180 days. The court may also require you to participate in a drug or alcohol treatment program. You will also lose your driving privileges for the next eight years. If you face your first or a subsequent DWI charge, call our Camden County DWI attorney for help.
Contact Our Camden County DWI Lawyer for a Free Legal Consultation
DWIs are not to be taken lightly and can cause a lot of headaches for defendants. If you or someone you know is facing DWI charges, contact our Camden County DWI attorney as soon as possible. Contact the Lombardo Law Group, LLC for help. Call (856) 281-9600 to schedule a free legal consultation. We can help you defend your rights and work to keep your driving privileges.
