Any person charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) in New Jersey is undoubtedly facing a stressful ordeal that can have potentially life-changing consequences. If you have been arrested or charged with a DWI, you need to consult a dependable New Jersey DWI lawyer immediately. A DWI is an extremely serious offense that can result in significant penalties and other negative consequences, especially if you are convicted.
A new study by Zendrive, a driving behavior analytics company, found that phone addicts are extremely dangerous behind the wheel, replacing drunk drivers as the ultimate threat on public roads. In fact, drivers nationally are 10 percent more distracted now than they were in 2018, according to the study. In addition, pedestrian deaths are at a 30-year-high, mainly because of distracted driving. The data revealed that individuals who cannot put their phone down actually get behind the wheel more. Specifically, they spend 150% more time on the road and drive 760% more miles than the average US driver. Essentially, it is virtually impossible to avoid distracted drivers on the road. While midnight to 3 a.m. is the known window to watch out for drunk drivers, phone addicts on the road are significantly impaired 24-7.
While distracted driving may be a bigger problem than drunk driving on the roads, drunk driving is still a major problem. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 10,874 deaths in motor vehicle crashes involving drunk drivers in 2017. This totalled 29 percent of all traffic fatalities for that year. In New Jersey, a driver is considered to be alcohol-impaired when his or her blood alcohol concentration is .08 grams per deciliter or higher. A driver can also be charged with a DWI if he or she is operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs. Any drugs, whether they are prescription, over-the-counter or illegal, can form the basis of a New Jersey DWI if they are thought to have diminished a person’s ability to drive safely.
Since drunk driving continues to be a major problem on the roads, police officers can sometimes be overzealous in charging people with a DWI. It is important to remember that just because you have been charged with a DWI does not automatically mean you will be convicted. Many times, police officers fail to follow the proper procedure when arresting someone for a DWI while, in other cases, they may charge someone with a DWI when there is another explanation for the person’s behavior (i.e., the person may be sleep deprived, not intoxicated). We will thoroughly examine the circumstances of your arrest and help you figure out any and all defenses that may help in your case.
If you have been charged with driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, whether it is your first offense, second offense or subsequent offense, our seasoned New Jersey DWI attorneys can help. With years of experience, we are skilled at fighting these types of charges. You can rest assured that we will use all of our resources to build the strongest possible defense on your behalf. For a free case evaluation, please do not hesitate to call us at 877-450-8301 or reach out to us online.