What Can I Do If I'm Charged with a DUI/DWI in NJ?

FREEHOLD, N.J. - July 6, 2016 - PRLog -- Top DUI & DWI Attorneys in NJ

As you may have already known, there are harsh penalties for residents in New Jersey for drunk driving-and with good reason. A report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that 1,816 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in New Jersey between 2003 and 2012.

The penalties involved with being convicted of a DUI include:

• Fines, fees and surcharges
• License suspension
• Ignition interlock device
• Jail time
• Community service

These penalties will vary depending on your BAC level and how many times you've been caught. Here is a more detailed summary of what you can expect depending on the violation:

First offense with BAC of 0.08% but less than 0.10%:

• License suspension: 3 months.
• Imprisonment: Maximum 30 days.
• Fine: $250 to $400.
• Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC): Mandatory 12 to 48 hours.
• Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC) Fee: $230.
• Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Fund Fee: $100
• Drunk Driving Fund: $100
• Neighborhood Services Fund: $75
• Surcharges: $1,000 per year for 3 years.

First offense with BAC of 0.10% or higher:

• License suspension: 7 to 12 months.
• Imprisonment: Maximum 30 days.
• Fine: $300 to $500.
• Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC): Mandatory 12 to 48 hours.
• Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC) Fee: $230.
• Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Fund Fee: $100
• Drunk Driving Fund: $100
• Neighborhood Services Fund: $75
• Surcharges: $1,000 per year for 3 years.
• Ignition Interlock Device (IID): 6 months to 1 year after license is restored if BAC was 0.15% or over.

First offense DUI under 21 years old:

If you are under 21 years old and you drive with a BAC of anything over 0.01% you may face all of the fines and imprisonments times above and:

• License suspension: 30 to 90 days.
• Community service: 15 to 30 days.
• Mandatory Alcohol and Highway Safety Education with IDRC.

Drunk driving laws make it illegal nationwide to drive with a BAC at or above 0.08%. For people under 21, "zero tolerance" laws make it illegal to drive with any measurable amount of alcohol in their system. These laws, along with laws that maintain the minimum legal drinking age at 21, are in place in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and have had a clear effect on highway safety, saving tens of thousands of lives since their implementation.

What Can I Do If I'm Charged with a DUI/DWI?

Fortunately, if you've been caught driving under the influence and are now facing a court date, it's not the end of the world. At the Law Offices of Herbert I. Ellis, we'll represent anyone facing a DUI or DWI change, and fight for you to keep your record clean.

We can carefully gather, evaluate and preserve all critical evidence supporting your case. Herbert Ellis will oversee the preparation and filing of all pleadings and other documents, and will be a zealous advocate for you in all hearings or proceedings regarding DUI/DWI.

Let us answer your questions and help you understand your rights to compensation. Call toll free at 888-ELLIS-LAW and consult with a lawyer (http://www.herbertellis.com/contact-us/) about your record.