Being in the legal profession gives me and my colleagues an advantage over the average person when it comes to understanding the possible consequences of many different civil and criminal offenses. For motorists here in the Garden State, one of the most serious — and the most potentially costly — is a driving while intoxicated charge. Combined with other related offenses, such as breath test refusal, DWI in a school zone, or drug DUI, the potential monetary penalties can total in the thousands of dollars.
As New Jersey DWI lawyers, the legal team at the law offices of Jonathan F. Marshall takes very seriously its responsibility to provide the best defense to drivers who have been accused of driving under the influence of alcohol, doctor-prescribed medications or illegal substances like marijuana or cocaine.
As adults, many drivers frequently find they are presented with a choice when enjoying an evening out with friends, family members or business associates. Given the opportunity to have a drink or two with others, any motorist must consider the consequences should he or she be stopped for a traffic violation not far from a restaurant or bar.
Here in New Jersey, where anti-DWI campaigns are common, state and local police agencies often have patrolmen on the roadways looking for potentially drunk drivers; there are also the occasional DWI roadblocks (or sobriety checkpoints) that also take in a number of intoxicated or otherwise impaired drivers at any given time. Nobody should be surprised that many average, law-abiding citizens are arrested every evening or weekend and charged with DWI-DUI.
For anyone who doubts the frequency with which law enforcement personnel arrest drivers, just take a look at your local paper or online news source. The following is just a smattering of the stories written on a weekly basis covering drunk driving incidents and those accused. All we can say, as DWI defense lawyers, is if you or someone you know is charged with an alcohol- or drug-related traffic offense, seek out the advice of a qualified legal professional before setting foot in a courtroom.
Police Arrest Drivers in Hackettstown for DWI
An Independence Township man was stopped in the early morning hours on a Sunday by police after officers observed a vehicle being driven at a high rate of speed along a stretch of Rte 517. According to news reports, officers following the driver also reported seeing the vehicle drift over the double yellow line on likely more than one occasion. The driver was arrested and charged with DWI in a school zone and failure to maintain his lane.
An another instance, a 22-year-old Rockaway driver was stopped along Rte 517 for having a malfunctioning brake light. During the traffic stop, the patrolman likely detected evidence of alcohol consumption on the suspect, after which he was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated.
Flemington, NJ, Patrolmen Arrest Two Drivers on DUI Charges
Police officers in Hunterdon County picked up two motorists on separate occasions for operating their motor vehicles while under the influence of alcohol. According to news items, cops from the borough of Flemington charged a 49-year-old local resident with DWI, as well as careless and reckless driving, after the man allegedly left his vehicle with its engine still running,
In another incident, a 23-year-old Ringoes, NJ, resident pulled over for what must have been some kind of erratic driving observed by a police patrol. During the traffic stop, the driver was likely determined to be intoxicated and subsequently charged with intoxicated driving, DWI in a school zone, failure to maintain his lane, speeding and reckless driving.
Flemington Police charge two drivers with DWI, NJ.com, March 16, 2013
Three charged with DWI in Hackettstown, NJ.com, March 04, 2013