South Jersey DUI Charges – A 101 Guide

If you have been charged with Driving Under the Influence in South Jersey, it is important that you have a solid understanding of what you are facing and what you need to do in order to protect yourself. In South Jersey, DUI charges are taken very seriously, and the fines and penalties are designed to make sure that drunk drivers are severely punished for their actions.

 

The state of New Jersey has enacted laws that make a person’s Blood Alcohol Concentration, or BAC, one of the most important factors in being charged. A Blood Alcohol Concentration is simply the percentage of alcohol concentration that is present in a driver’s blood stream at the time that they are charged.  Though this is the measure that is outlined legally, the number that is entered at the time that a driver is charged is often a calculation made from a breath sample that is taken rather than from blood being drawn. In reality, a breath analysis is done more frequently than blood. The calculation is based on a Blood-Breath conversion ratio that has been standardized. For those driving non-commercial vehicles and who are over the age of 21, the legal limit is 0.08.  That level drops to 0.01 if you are under the legal drinking age. Drinking and driving under the age of 21 also puts you at risk of being charged with disorderly conduct.

 

Being charged with DUI in New Jersey and being convicted puts you in jeopardy of losing your driver’s license, as well as of facing time in jail and having to pay significant fines.  First offenders with Blood Alcohol Concentrations less than 0.10 face three months of license loss and the possibility of jail for thirty days. Higher BACs can lead to up to a year of license loss, and for 2nd time offenders the loss of license can be as long as two years.  Those who are convicted are often also required to attend special alcohol education classes and to perform community service. These penalties are determined at the discretion of an individual court, and the best way to minimize the penalties you are assessed is to have an experienced South Jersey DUI attorney by your side.

 

Going to court on a DWI charge is an extremely intimidating experience, particularly because the state guidelines indicate that no plea agreements will be allowed. The DUI attorneys of Wallace Law will represent you at the time of your arraignment and pre-trial conference, listening carefully to the evidence that the state intends to use against you and determining what may be suppressed of whether the police violated your rights during the course of your arrest.

 

Though many people believe that once caught driving under the influence, they should simply plead guilty, you have a right to fight the charges. The attorneys at Wallace Law have successfully defended many DUI clients, and have had charges dropped or reduced in many cases. We will assess your case and advise you as to which course of action is best for you. Call us today to set up an appointment.

Learn more about South Jersey DUI Charges here: http://www.bawallacelaw.com/practice-areas/dui-lawyer-in-south-jersey/