In a recent NJ.com article, they ranked every New Jersey shore town by DWI arrests made per square mile. The statistics they used were the most recent available, based on the fiscal year of July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2016.
Importantly, these rankings took into account all Driving While Impaired arrests, which include not only drunk driving arrests, but arrests for driving while impaired by other illegal substances such as certain prescription drugs, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and other illicit drugs as well.
Of the 4 different counties surveyed (Monmouth County, Cape May County, Ocean County, and Atlantic County) surprisingly, or perhaps not, Monmouth County towns account for 9 of the top 20 towns listed for the highest incidents of DWI arrests per square mile at the Jersey Shore. The specific towns listed are:
- #3 – Loch Arbour
- #4 – Allenhurst
- #5 – Bradley Beach
- #9 – Deal
- #10 – Asbury Park
- #12 – Belmar
- #14 – Sea Bright
- #15 – Sea Girt
- #17 – Neptune and Ocean Grove
For residents of these towns, and Monmouth County in general, these high arrest figures demonstrate that it is critical that you not only understand exactly how and when a DWI arrest can be made but your legal options following a DWI arrest as well.
When Can I Be Arrested for a Monmouth County DWI?
When a police officer pulls you over, if they have reason to believe you may be impaired, be it slurred speech, an odor of alcohol, visible containers or alcohol, reckless or dangerous driving, or other signs of intoxication, they may ask you to perform a field sobriety test. While you may refuse to take a field sobriety test, if the officer believes they have enough probable cause, they can arrest you on the spot.
Should an officer make a DWI arrest, you will most likely be asked to submit to a breath test, or a speaker with a Drug Recognition Expert if they believe your impairment is the result of drugs and not alcohol. While you do have the right to refuse to submit to either of these tests, refusal to submit to these tests is a crime in and of itself, and equatable to a DWI arrest. It is almost always in your best interest to simply submit to these tests, even if you know you will fail. The police, however, are not allowed to perform blood tests on you without a warrant stating otherwise.
In general, a DWI arrest will result in municipal court charges if:
- A Breath Test finds your Blood Alcohol Content to be .08% or higher
- You refuse to submit to a breath test
- A drug recognition expert believes you are under the influence of drugs
- In rare cases when the police believe that they have sufficient evidence without these tests to believe you were driving under the influence
What are the Penalties for a Monmouth County DWI Conviction?
The penalties for a Monmouth County DWI conviction vary depending on the number or previous offenses you may have already been convicted for, as well as the BAC you are found to have at the time of the DWI arrest. Furthermore, any arrest that occurs in a school zone, or within proximity of a school crossing carry increased penalties.
And of course, if you are under the age of 21, driving while drinking any amount of alcohol is illegal.
For a complete overview of the various charges and penalties associated with a New Jersey DWI conviction, be sure to check out our DWI pages.
Contact Our Monmouth County DWI/DUI Attorneys Today
At The Law Office of Chamlin, Uliano & Walsh, our attorneys have extensive experience defending clients across Red Bank, Freehold, Asbury Park, Sea Girt, and the greater Monmouth County area from DWI charges of all kinds.
We question every aspect of the state’s evidence against you, from the probable cause of the initial arrest, the procedures, and steps taken during your arrest, and the calibration and accuracy of breath test devices used in your case. Many DWI cases involve illegal arrests, inaccurately drawn conclusions by the officers involved, and faulty equipment, and our attorneys will thoroughly investigate your DWI case, and avidly defend your legal rights, driving privileges, and financial interests throughout the defense process.
To speak with our firm today regarding your DWI arrest, and your rights and options moving forward, please contact us online, or through our West Long Branch offices at (732) 440-3950.