Where Do They Take You if You Get a DUI in Atlantic County, NJ?

Getting pulled over for a DUI is never a pleasant experience. You may be taken into police custody, your vehicle towed, and you might end up being detained for a while. The first question many DUI defendants have when they are being arrested is about where they are being taken. You need to know where the police will take you so you can call an attorney and have a friend or family member come pick you up.

After someone is arrested for a DUI, they may be taken to the police station. Exactly which police station you go to may depend on which police officers arrested you and which department they work for. In some cases, such as when the police suspect a person is too intoxicated to get home, they may detain them for a while so they can sober up. After you are arrested, the police may take you in for booking, mug shots, chemical testing, and possibly questioning. If you are arrested, demand to call your attorney as soon as possible.

Contact our Atlantic County, NJ DUI and DWI attorneys at the Lombardo Law Group by calling (609) 418-4537 and ask for a free initial case review.

Where The Police Take You After a DUI in Atlantic County, NJ

When someone is arrested for almost anything, including DWIs or DUIs, they are usually taken to the police station. Now, different police departments have different police stations. In larger cities, the same department might have multiple precincts. The exact location depends on where the DUI occurs and which police department is in charge of your case. Ask officers about your location before calling our Linwood, NJ DUI and DWI defense lawyers for help.

If local authorities arrest you, you may be taken to the police station within that town or city. Atlantic County has many different towns and cities, and various local police departments might pull someone over and arrest them for a DUI or DWI. To make things even more complicated, some people are pulled over by the New Jersey State Police. They handle cases across the entire state, and you might be taken to a state police station within the county.

In some cases, drivers arrested for suspected DUIs or DWIs are taken to jail. As explained in more detail below, this might be because they are too intoxicated to be safely released or they are held for another offense that overlaps with the DUI. In that case, drivers might be taken to the Atlantic County Gerard L. Gormley Justice Facility, also known as the Atlantic County Jail.

How Long Can the Police Hold You After Arresting You for a DUI in Atlantic County, NJ?

Generally, DUIs are not considered criminal offenses in New Jersey because they are not listed under the state’s criminal code. Instead, they are listed under the motor vehicle and are considered traffic violations. As such, the police do not usually detain DUI suspects for very long. Many are arrested, brought to the police station for chemical testing, and possibly some questions, and they may be released shortly after.

In some cases, the police can keep a DUI suspect, but only for certain reasons. For example, a person who is extremely intoxicated might be unable to get home safely on their own. The police may detain them long enough for them to sober up, usually overnight. In some cases, the police may take intoxicated drivers to a treatment center.

You might be detained longer if other offenses are connected to your DUI case. For example, if a driver suspected of a DUI also causes a severe accident, they might face criminal charges, and the police may detain them longer while they communicate with prosecutors about how to press charges. In such cases, defendants might not be released until they have a bail hearing.

What Happens After Being Arrested for a DUI in Atlantic County, NJ?

After someone is arrested for a DUI or DWI in Atlantic County, they are typically taken to the police station for booking. This involves law enforcement taking down the driver’s personal information so they can be identified, logging the arrest and making records, mug shots, and more. The booking process is pretty standard and is a routine part of most arrests.

The police will also likely take you in for mandatory chemical testing. After arrest, chemical testing is mandatory and legally required of drivers. While the police cannot force you to submit to testing, they must advise you of the penalties for refusal. You may be charged with additional charges for refusal, and these charges may stick even if the DUI is dropped or you are found not guilty.

The police may also want to ask you questions about the alleged DUI incident. At this point, you have the right to stay silent and refuse to answer questions that might incriminate you. You also have the right to have an attorney by your side during questioning. Invoke both these rights loudly and clearly.

In many DUI and DWI cases, drivers are released fairly quickly. You likely will have to call someone to pick you up as the police have probably impounded your vehicle. You might be released a few hours after being arrested. If the police hold you longer, you might be released the next day. Call an attorney immediately if you have been held for a long time on a DUI or DWI charge.

When to Contact an Attorney After Being Arrested for a DUI in Atlantic County, NJ

You should contact a lawyer for help as soon as possible. Depending on where the police take you, you should be able to make a phone call. At the police station, you can likely make a phone call after the booking process is done and before questioning begins. Call your attorney or a friend or family member who can call your lawyer. In some cases, defendants are released relatively quickly and can call a lawyer after they are released from custody.

Remember, DWI cases tend to move quickly, and there is a chance that your case will be scheduled in front of a judge in only a few short weeks. This leaves little time to meet with a lawyer and plan a defense strategy, so time is of the essence.