Driving under the influence in New Jersey will mean that you are susceptible to severe penalties and punishments. Understanding this can help you to rethink your choice or driving when you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. A blood alcohol (BAC) of .08 is the measurement that you are measured by and if you are pulled over and measure at this percentage or higher, you will be charged with a DWI. Commercial drivers and drivers under the age of twenty-one have even stricter measurements that they have to be aware of. Be sure that you keep this in mind if you are making the choice to drink and drive.
First Offense DWI
Your first DWI conviction in New Jersey will result in the loss of your license for three months and if your BAC is higher than .10, you will face an even longer suspension of anywhere from seven months to one year. As far as jail time, you will face a minimum of twelve hours in jail, but not more than 30 days. Fines can be a significant financial expense, with them ranging from $250 to $400 for BACs of .08 to .10 and fines of $300 to $500 for BACs of .11 and above. These fines do not include other fees, however, including reinstatement fees, sentencing requirements, and a DWI surcharge of $1000 that you are responsible for annually for three years.
Second Offense DWI
A second DWI conviction within ten years of the first one will mean that you will face some strict penalties and punishments. The first is that you will have your license suspended for two years and you will have to install an ignition interlock device on your vehicle permanently. As far as jail time, you will face a minimum of 2 days in jail and a maximum time of 90 days. Fines will range from $500 to $1000 and this will not include court fees, ignition interlock devices, reinstatement fees, and other fees that you are responsible for. As you can see, driving under the influence can have a financial cost, as well as a freedom cost.
Third Offense DWI
A third DWI conviction will mean that you will lose your license for 10 years, with no restricted license availability. This is a long time to depend upon other people to take you places or to use public transportation. After you have served your 10 year suspension, you will have to install an ignition interlock device on your vehicle for a period of one to three years. Jail time will be a minimum of 180 days in jail and this amount can significantly increase if there were any aggravating factors in your arrest. You will be responsible for a minimum fine of $1000, but this doesn’t include the mandatory DWI surcharge that you will be responsible for annually, as well as other fees and costs that are associated with you fulfilling your sentence and the reinstatement fees for getting your license back and more.
When you are making the choice to drink and drive, you are setting yourself up to restrict not only your freedom, but also your financial situation. With fees and sentencing costs that are included, as well as jail time and license suspension, you will see that choosing to drink and drive will mean that your life can be severely restricted for a long time to come. By getting a lawyer for proper legal representation, you will be able to make it through the legal process and be sure that you are taken care of in the best way possible.