Asbury Park Legal Pros for DWI Defense
Even though DWI is a traffic offense, it carries substantial penalties which can affect every part of your life, from your employment to your relationships. As well as heavy fines and loss of driving privileges, a first-time DWI conviction may lead to jail time. If you are facing a DWI charge, you need an attorney with DWI expertise working for you. A charge of DWI does not automatically mean that you will be found guilty, especially if you have a competent attorney by your side.
DUI Lawyer in Asbury Park
A DUI conviction in New Jersey is a serious matter.
For a first offense, the level of alcohol in your blood (BAC) will determine the degree of the potential penalties you could face. For a BAC above the legal limit of.08% and below.09%, punishments include fines of $250-$ 400, up to three months’ suspension of driving privileges, and possible jail time. You may also be required to have an Ignition Interlock on your car for up to one year after your driving privileges have been restored.
With a 1.0% or higher BAC, the minimum fine increases to $300 and the compulsory suspension of driving privileges increases to a minimum of 7 months. If the BAC is 0.15% and greater, an Ignition Interlock will be mandatory for at least six months.
Additional penalties for all DWI convictions, regardless of BAC, involve a $1,000 insurance surcharge for three years and 12 hours of classes at an Intoxicated Driver Resource Center.
Additional convictions will include compulsory jail time, as much as ten years’ suspension of driving privileges and greater fines and costs.
Many jobs involve driving or operating machinery– a DWI conviction will lead to loss of your current job in those cases, and possibly make it difficult, or even impossible, to work in a similar job in the future.
Driving under the influence of recreational or prescribed drugs may also result in a DWI conviction. Establishing that an individual is under the influence of drugs often involves “expert” testimony. Police officers may use a Drug Evaluation and Classification program developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to identify signs and behaviors that are presumed to indicate intoxication. An experienced DWI attorney knows how to react when the state tries to use such testimony against you.
DWI Defense Lawyers Near Me
It is important to consult a lawyer as soon as possible if you have been arrested or charged with DWI. You need someone who knows how to handle DWI cases. An attorney will have the opportunity to learn what evidence was used to charge you with DWI and will be able to find out whether the evidence was obtained lawfully, how to object to certain evidence, and how to spot flaws in the evidence that may bring about an acquittal. In some cases, the charges may be reduced to a lesser offense that does not include loss of driving privileges. Call the office of Pepe & Wintrode today at (609) 294-8300 for a free consultation.