Although many people who find themselves arrested and charged with a drunken driving offense may generally be lumped into the first-and-old-time category, there is a portion of the driving public, albeit a smaller group, who end up with second- and third-time offenses to deal with. When it comes to DWI and drug DUI arrests, those with multiple convictions definitely have a harder time of it in terms of sentencing and penalties.
Sad to say, but those motorists who find themselves the recipients of frequent drunken driving summonses can often end up with onerous monetary penalties and significant jail time if convicted of a third or subsequent DWI charge. Most drivers, as well as the public at large, find it surprising that those with a couple DWIs under their belt may actually tempt fate and drive a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, prescription drugs or an illegal substance (CDS); however, regardless of why a person ends up arrested for DWI-DUI after already being convicted in the past of similar charges, the bottom line is that a competent drunk driving defense is all the more important for such individuals.
As Garden State DWI-DUI defense attorneys, my colleagues and I make it our business to defend those people who feel they were unjustly accused, or that the potential penalties following another conviction would be too much to bear. Whether my legal staff handles a first-time DWI case or one involving a second- or third-time charge, we know the importance of thorough preparation when fighting for our clients. In fact, it is safe to say that most individuals facing potentially heavy fines and other penalties feel they need a lawyer skilled in drunk driving defense to avoid serious consequences.
We see a large number of motorists over the course of a year, We strive to assist people, but we must say that in order to completely avoid the chances of being arrested for intoxicated driving, one should simply avoid consuming alcoholic beverages whenever the need to drive is imminent. Unfortunately, human nature often leads people to unhappy outcomes. We ran across a news story the other days that illustrated just that kind of scenario, vis-à-vis multiple DWIs.
According to reports, a 41-year-old Washington, NJ, woman, who had a record of four past convictions for driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, as well as driving under a suspended license, was arrested once again for unlicensed vehicle operation after police arrived at the scene of a minor traffic collision.
Based on police reports, the Warren County resident was apparently behind the wheel of a Dodge minivan earlier this month when the crash occurred. Officers from the Washington Township police subsequently filed a criminal complaint against the woman — she was allegedly at fault, though no injuries had been reported.
New articles described the woman’s previous run-ins with the law, including a DWI following a mile-long police chase in early 2012. In that instance, according to court records, a township patrolman noticed a vehicle parked behind a business after closing hours. As the officer was checking on the vehicle, due to concerns over recent break-ins in that area, the suspect drove away in an apparent effort to evade the officer. Following a brief chase, the woman was stopped her vehicle and surrendered. She was arrested and charged on the grounds of having a 0.16 percent blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) reading. Having pleaded guilty to a variety of charges in New Jersey Superior Court, the defendant was sentenced to 190 days in jail, plus two years’ probation.
The charges that the woman faced this time around included driving with a suspended license, multiple traffic tickets, operating a vehicle in violation of an ignition interlock device (IID) order, as well as driving a motor vehicle without the owner’s permission.
Washington woman with four DUI convictions charged with driving under suspension for fifth time, LehighValleyLive.com, September 10, 2014
Warren County grand jury indicts Washington woman accused of leading police on chase through borough, LehighValleyLive.com, March 1, 2012