DWI

Bergen County, NJ DWI Attorney

Defending clients face NJ DWIs

Driving a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol is illegal. New Jersey takes DWI’s seriously. Law enforcement is proactive in catching people who egregiously violate the law and wantonly put others at risk. The laws in New Jersey are strict, the penalties are severe and prosecutors are hostile towards these violations. Some of the many things one can face from a DWI charge include steep financial penalties, mandatory license suspension, and the possibility of a prison term. New Jersey does not allow for any plea bargaining for DWI offenses. New Jersey has no hardship license and the mandatory suspension of your license can seriously impact your life. In addition, a DWI can leave a permanent mark on your driving record. If you have been issued a DWI ticket, you need to contact an attorney that can effectively represent you. Our firm has over 25 years of experience fighting for our clients. Our firm will assess your case, explore legal defenses for your case, and skillfully fight the violation. If you need our quality defense, contact The Law Offices of Richard E. Novak, LLC.

BAC

Regardless of whether you believe that you are sober, you are legally under the influence of alcohol if you are found to have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher. If you are caught driving a commercial vehicle with a BAC of 0.04% or higher, you are over the legal limit. If you are under the age of 21, you are automatically found over the legal limit if you are caught with a BAC of 0.01% or higher.

DWI penalties

If you are arrested for a DWI in New Jersey, you are facing serious consequences for your violation. For a driver under the age of 21, he or she faces the following:

  • Mandatory license suspension up to 90 days
  • Depending on the situation, a various combination of fines and penalties issued to first-time offenders over 21
  • Up to 30 days of mandatory community service
  • Hours of participation in the Intoxicated Driver Resource Center

If you are caught driving under the influence with a BAC over 0.08% but below 0.10% and charged with a first-offense DUI, you will face the following penalties:

  • You may lose your license until you have the ignition interlock device installed, and from there, you will most likely have to use the ignition interlock device for three months.
  • A potential $400 fine
  • A $125 DWI surcharge
  • A $100 DDEF surcharge
  • Up to $33 in court costs
  • Between 12 and 48 hours in the Intoxicated Driver Resource Center
  • Up to 30 days of jail time
  • $75 for SNSF
  • $50 for VCCO

That being said, your BAC plays a significant role regarding the consequences you may face for a first-offense DUI. If you were arrested and had a BAC between 0.10%-0.15%, you will most likely face the following consequences:

  • You may lose your license until you have the ignition interlock device installed in your vehicle, and from there, you may have to use the ignition interlock device for anywhere between seven months and one year.
  • Between 12 and 48 hours in the IDRC
  • Up to 30 days of incarceration
  • A potential $500 fine
  • A $125 DWI Surcharge
  • A $100 DDEF Surcharge
  • $75 to the SNSF
  • $50 to the VCCO
  • Up to $33 in court costs

Finally, if you are someone who was arrested with a blood alcohol content that was higher than 0.15%, you will most likely have to install and use the ignition interlock device for up to 15 months, and you may also face a potential 6-month forfeiture of your license, as well as high fines.

Repeat offenders

Being charged with a DWI is a serious matter. Being convicted of a subsequent offense within 10 years of a previous DWI can be devastating. If you are caught a second time within 10 years of a first conviction, you face the following consequences:

Second Offense

  • 2-year loss of license
  • A fine of $500-$1000
  • Up to 90 days in jail
  • 12-48 hours in the IDRC with applicable fees
  • Interlock Device during license suspension and 1-3 years following
  • $100 to AERF
  • $100 to the Drunk Driving Fund
  • A 3-year surcharge of $1,000 per year
  • $75 to the Neighborhood Services Fund
  • Up to 30 days of community service

Third and subsequent offense

  • 10-year loss of license
  • A fine of $1,000
  • Up to 180 days in jail
  • 12-48 hours in the IDRC with applicable fees
  • Ignition Interlock Device during license suspension and 1-3 years following the restoration
  • $100 to AERF
  • $100 to the Drunk Driving Fund
  • A 3-year surcharge of $1,000 per year
  • $75 to the Neighborhood Services Fund
  • Up to 90 days of community service

Contact our DWI defense law firm

If you are charged with a DWI, you need to contact a firm with experience to fight the violation. Located in Englewood, NJ The Law Offices of Richard E. Novak, LLC is committed to providing clients the effective legal defense they deserve when they are facing such serious matters. If you need quality legal services from an experienced DWI defense lawyer, contact our firm for a consultation.