Articles Posted in DWI in a School Zone

While it is unlawful for a person to operate a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol in New Jersey, not all DWI offenses are treated equally, as some carry enhanced penalties. For example,  a conviction for a DWI in a school zone carries greater penalties than if the offense occurred in other areas. Recently, a New Jersey court discussed the evidence needed to prove a person is guilty of driving while intoxicated in a school zone, in a recent opinion in which the defendant appealed his conviction. If you are a resident of New Jersey charged with driving under the influence near a school, it is prudent to speak to a dedicated New Jersey school zone DWI defense attorney to evaluate your possible defenses.

Facts of the Case

Reportedly, the police responded to the scene of a one-car accident in Warren, New Jersey. When they arrived at the scene, they observed tire marks on the road and in the grass and a disabled vehicle in the middle of the road. When they approached the vehicle, they observed the defendant sitting in the driver’s seat with the car running and the headlights on. When the police spoke with the defendant, they smelled alcohol and noted his speech was slurred and difficult to understand.

Allegedly, the defendant was unaware that he was involved in the accident. He submitted to field sobriety tests, which he failed. He was arrested and transported to the police station, where his BAC was determined to be 0.28. He was charged with DWI and DWI within 1000 feet of a school. Following a bench trial, the defendant was found guilty. He appealed, arguing in part that the State failed to produce evidence sufficient to show he was guilty of DWI in a school zone. Continue reading

School bus drivers must be extremely careful behind the wheel as they are responsible for transporting children to and from school safely. If you are a school bus driver who has been charged or arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI), we can help. Our New Jersey DWI attorneys will scrutinize the details of your arrest and build an aggressive defense on your behalf.

A New Jersey school bus driver was recently charged with a DWI after an accident that injured eight students. The wreck took place in the morning while 28 students were on the bus. According to law enforcement, the bus driver was under the influence of prescription medication when she struck another bus from behind at a New Jersey school while she was dropping the children off. Put another way, the bus driver failed to stop in time and ended up hitting the back of the empty bus parked ahead of her. The driver was charged with DWI, DWI in a School Zone, DWI through a school crossing as well as DWI with a minor in the vehicle.

New Jersey has strict DWI laws. A person who is 21 year of age is considered to be driving while intoxicated if his or her blood alcohol content (BAC) is 0.08 percent or higher. Commercial drivers, including bus drivers, are considered to be legally intoxicated if they are operating their vehicle with a BAC of 0.04 percent. These commercial DWI laws are in place to discourage people from drinking even small amounts of alcohol before getting behind the wheel in an effort to reduce accidents on the road.

Continue reading

If you have been cited for a DWI in a school zone, you need to reach out to a seasoned New Jersey DWI attorney without delay.

An alleged drunk driver was involved in two accidents in a school zone last week, according to the Mendham Borough police. The 50-year-old woman from Bernardsville was charged with drunk driving and driving in a school zone and ticketed with reckless driving, failure to keep right, leaving the scene of an accident, and failure to report an accident after the crash. Police were notified when multiple residents from the area called to report the incidents.The first crash entailed the intoxicated woman hitting a parked Dodge Ram pickup truck, which was pushed into another truck. Witnesses to the incident told cops that the woman got out of her vehicle about 50 feet away and then got back into the car and drove off. A short while later, she crashed into a Mercedes Benz. Even at this point, she did not stop. She kept driving and was ultimately pulled over by the police.

Continue reading