What happens if you are charged with DUI in New Jersey?
When a motorist has been stopped by police, the officer may notice signs that the driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This may give the officer enough evidence to begin an investigation to determine whether or not the individual is impaired. The driver may be asked to perform field sobriety tests, and if the motorist performs poorly, he or she may be arrested.
Those drivers arrested for DUI in New Jersey will have their blood or breath tested to determine if they were over the legal limit. If these drivers refuse the test, they will immediately lose their licenses, even if they are eventually able to beat the DUI charges.
Penalties for a first-offense DUI in New Jersey
Individuals arrested for DUI could be facing some very serious penalties if they are convicted. These motorists will be fined, and they could be sentenced to a possible 30 days in prison. These drivers will also lose their licenses. Those with high blood-alcohol content levels above 0.10 percent will see their penalties potentially increased.
In some situations, these drivers may be required to install ignition interlock devices. These drivers will not be able to start their vehicles if there is any alcohol is present in their system. The costs for installation and continued monitoring of the devices must be paid for by the offenders, and these costs can quickly add up.
Additional consequences for a DUI conviction
In addition to the penalties mentioned above, these motorists will be forced to pay much higher insurance costs after being convicted, and, in some cases, might even have problems finding a company willing to insure them. These drivers will be forced to pay these higher costs for a substantial period of time. If individuals need licenses for work, they could even lose their jobs if they are convicted of an alcohol-related driving offense.
Find the right representation
If you have been charged with a DUI, you will probably be uncertain about what will happen, especially if you have never had any other legal problems in the past. You may talk to friends and relatives who have been through the process, but their situations may be completely different from what happened in your case.
You need to talk to an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. This will allow you to begin building a defense immediately after you have been arrested. Your attorney will examine your case, and learn about some of the potential options that may be available to you. You need to protect yourself, because these charges carry substantial penalties, which will be much more severe for later offenses.