New Jersey DUI Lawyers

There's a Lot at Stake After a DWI Arrest. Let a New Jersey DUI Lawyer from Our Firm Help

If you have been arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) in New Jersey, you need to make sure you have a clear understanding of your present circumstances. For example, did you know you are not entitled to a trial by jury? Did you know the judge could order jail time for a first offense, and jail time is mandatory for repeat offenders? Did you know you could be facing thousands of dollars in fines, costs, and insurance surcharges? Without the help of a New Jersey DUI lawyer, there are too many circumstances that put your freedom in jeopardy.

There are many potential consequences to a drunk driving arrest. Fortunately, there are also several potential defenses. Our New Jersey DWI lawyers provide experienced and aggressive legal representation for clients facing DUI charges throughout the state. If you have been charged with DUI (or DWI), you simply cannot afford to face the judge on your own (or, worse, miss your court date). You need to take your situation seriously, and this starts with hiring serious legal representation.

We Have Been Helping People Fight DUI Charges in New Jersey for Decades

Our firm has been helping New Jersey residents fight DUI charges for decades, and combined, our lawyers have centuries of experience handling drunk driving cases. We have office locations statewide, and when you choose our firm, you will work with a DUI lawyer who has extensive experience helping individuals avoid unnecessary consequences.

In addition to our experience fighting for DUI defendants in New Jersey’s municipal courts, we also have lawyers who are trained in the Alcotest (the breathalyzer device) and the standardized field sobriety tests (SFSTs). Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) readings and SFST results frequently play a central role in DUI cases. By challenging the accuracy, reliability and admissibility of our clients’ BAC readings and SFST results, we have been able to help numerous clients escape drunk driving convictions in court. We have successfully defended many clients in DUI cases by asserting a wide range of other defenses.

Our New Jersey DUI Defense Attorneys Are Here to Help - You Can Hire Us With Confidence

At Helmer, Conley & Kasselman, P.A., we have a team of attorneys whose practices are dedicated to DUI defense. We are also proud to note attorneys John Dell’Aquilo and Michael Troso (listed below) are specifically trained in the Alcotest and SFSTs. Choose an attorney to learn more:

What Are Drunk Driving Offenses in New Jersey?

In New Jersey, there is no distinction between “driving under the influence” and “driving while intoxicated.” These terms are used interchangeably, and they describe the traffic offense outlined in Section 39:4-50 of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Code. Under Section 39:4-50, it is illegal to “operate[] a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating [alcohol or drugs], or operate[] a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration [BAC] of 0.08% or more.”

As a result, even though the law only establishes one drunk-driving offense, there are actually two ways a person can be charged with DUI. First, you can be charged with DUI if you are “under the influence” of alcohol, regardless of your BAC. Second, you can be charged if your BAC is 0.08 percent or above, regardless of whether the alcohol has an influence on your driving capabilities.

In addition to being charged with DUI, individuals arrested for drunk driving will often face charges for additional offenses, including:

Driving under the influence with a minor as a passenger
Possession of an open container
DUI with injury or death by auto
Refusing to consent to a breath test (“implied consent” violations)
Underage drunk driving (under New Jersey’s “zero tolerance” law)

Penalties for Drunk Driving in New Jersey

The range of potential penalties for DUI is determined based upon (i) the alleged offender’s DUI history, and (ii) whether there were any aggravating factors involved in the arrest. For example, for a first-time “standard” DUI, the potential penalties include:

$200 to $400 in fines
Insurance surcharges
Indefinite forfeiture of license
Installation of an ignition interlock device for 3 months
12 to 48 hours at an Intoxicated Driver’s Resource Center
Up to 30 days in jail
School zone offenses eliminated
The other penalties listed above

Learn more about the penalties for DUI in New Jersey.

What NJ Prosecutors Must Prove to Convict You of DWI

In drunk driving cases, the prosecution has the burden of proving the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. As a result, your New Jersey DWI lawyer doesn’t need to be able to prove you are innocent to help you avoid a conviction. Instead, your lawyer just needs to be able to prevent the prosecution from proving you are guilty.

But this still isn’t easy. Under New Jersey law (Section 39:4-50 of the New Jersey Revised Statutes), the prosecution has two ways to prove you deserve a DWI conviction. Prosecutors can prove you are guilty by showing either:

You were operating a motor vehicle “while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, narcotic, hallucinogenic or habit-producing drug;” or,
You were operating a motor vehicle “with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or more by weight of alcohol.”

Prosecutors do not need to prove both. If they can prove you were under the influence, then they don’t need a high BAC to secure a conviction. If they can prove your BAC was over the legal limit, they can secure a conviction even if you were still safely in full control of your vehicle.

This is critical to understand, and it is one of the most important reasons to put an experienced New Jersey DWI lawyer on your side. When you hire a lawyer at our firm, your lawyer will scrutinize all of the prosecution’s evidence and determine all of the steps that are necessary to protect you. If the police officer who arrested you can testify you were driving dangerously (or if you were caught on camera), then challenging your BAC reading will not be enough. Likewise, the prosecution may be able to secure a DWI conviction even if you refused the breath test, in which case you could face an additional charge for violating New Jersey’s “implied consent” law.

A New Jersey DWI Lawyer Explains the “Implied Consent” Law

New Jersey is among the states that has a law commonly known as “implied consent.” Under the state’s implied consent law, if the police stop you on suspicion of DUI, you are legally-required to submit to a breath test (the Alcotest, also commonly known as a “breathalyzer”). If you take the test as required, the prosecutor’s office can use your BAC against you in court. If you refuse to blow, you can be charged with an implied consent violation, in addition to facing charges for drunk driving. Since this is a separate offense, you can be penalized for an implied consent violation, even if you are not convicted of DUI. The penalties for implied consent violations are severe, and in certain respects even exceed those for a first-time DUI.

Potential Defenses of Drunk Driving

What are the potential defenses to a DUI in New Jersey? There are several, but, once again, the defenses available in your case will depend on the unique facts and circumstances involved. Some of the possible defenses to DUI and implied consent violations include:

Breathalyzer machine errors – The Alcotest is a complex piece of machinery that must be carefully calibrated and properly maintained. These devices can malfunction and issue “false positives” for high BACs; and, if this happened in your case, your BAC test results may be inadmissible in court.
Police procedural mistakes – Police officers must follow numerous specific procedures when conducting traffic stops, making arrests and administering breath tests. When they fail to follow these procedures exactly, their failures can provide defenses in court.
Instructions in English – Among the procedures police must follow, when you are stopped for DUI, the arresting officer must explain your rights under the implied consent law in language you can understand. If you were not provided instructions in your native language, you may be entitled to have your implied consent law violation dismissed.
Mistaken refusal – In order for the Alcotest to work properly, you must blow into it strongly and for a long period of time. If you have a serious medical condition that prevents you from blowing enough air into the machine, you may be able to assert a mistaken refusal defense.
Field sobriety test issues – Unlike the breath test, you are not required to submit to field sobriety tests (FSTs) in New Jersey. If you agreed to perform the one-leg stand, walk-and-turn or horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN) test, our attorneys may be able to challenge the arresting officer’s testing procedures or interpretation of your performance.
Medical conditions – If you suffer from a medical condition that can cause driving impairments similar to intoxication or can make it difficult to “pass” the FSTs, your illness or injury may provide a defense to DUI.
Constitutional violations – The U.S. Constitution provides numerous important protections to citizens that apply during DUI traffic stops and arrests. If the police violated your Constitutional rights, we can use their violation to help protect you.

Why You Need a DWI Lawyer After a Drunk Driving Arrest in New Jersey

An individual arrested and charged with driving under the influence is not required to have an attorney appear with them in court or provide them with legal representation. In fact, because a New Jersey DUI is considered a traffic offense, the proceedings occur before a judge, without a jury, and any individual can appear to plead guilty or to represent themselves at trial.

Because a DUI case is considered a traffic offense, many New Jersey residents believe they can save money by representing themselves in court or hiring a general practice attorney. Unfortunately, the consequences of a DUI conviction are severe, including imprisonment, the installation of an Ignition Interlock Device, as well as significant fines, fees, surcharges and other obligations, such as community service, making it critical to have a New Jersey DUI defense attorney working to defend you and to minimize the possible consequences imposed against you.

Benefits to Retaining a Skilled New Jersey DWI Attorney

If suspended, New Jersey does not allow a hardship license or any ability to drive (even to work). Therefore, a conviction for DWI can have a negative effect on your life and ability to work and travel for many years after the violation.

Many people do not understand the benefits to retaining a DWI defense attorney, including:

Suppression of Evidence: There are many different reasons why evidence gathered by law enforcement can be suppressed so it cannot be used against you in court. Perhaps the sobriety checkpoint did not adhere to guidelines established by the New Jersey Superior Court, or the police did not have probable cause to arrest you. Or, in the case of a motor vehicle stop, was there a sufficient quantum of suspicion to allow the police to stop you? Only an experienced DWI attorney is knowledgeable on the evidence that can be suppressed and the manner to have it thrown out of court.
Careful Analysis of the Facts: Each DUI case is unique based on specific facts and the possible defenses that apply vary from case to case. For example, a person’s particular physical and medical condition may cause them to fail a field sobriety test, or the arresting and testing officer may not have followed the guidelines and procedures necessary to administer either the field sobriety tests or a chemical breath test. Only a seasoned DUI lawyer understands which defense will result in the elimination of the charges filed against you.

Questions Your New Jersey DUI Lawyer Must Ask You During Your Meeting

When selecting a lawyer to handle your drunk driving case, you need to ask questions. How much experience does the attorney have in DUI/DWI matters? Will he or she personally handle your case? What outcomes can you reasonably expect before and after trial?

But, when evaluating potential attorneys, the questions they ask can tell you a lot as well. A skilled DUI attorney should know the questions to ask in order to quickly narrow down the issues in your case and begin formulating a strategy to secure the best possible outcome. These questions include:

How much alcohol had you consumed (if any) prior to your arrest?

While everyone’s biology is unique, an experienced DUI/DWI lawyer in New Jersey will be able to assess whether, based upon your alcohol consumption, your blood alcohol content (BAC) reading and the arresting officer’s interpretation of your performance on the field sobriety tests (FSTs) are likely to be accurate.

When did you have your last drink?

Even if you were drinking, if the effects of the alcohol should have worn off by the time you were arrested, there may be another explanation for the driving behavior that caused you to get pulled over. If you were drinking shortly before your arrest, your BAC could have risen between the time you got pulled over and the time you took the Alcotest.

Do you have any medical conditions?

Certain medical conditions can cause erratic driving behaviors and poor performance on FSTs. If you suffer from a medical condition, your condition may provide a solid defense to your DUI/DWI.

Why did the arresting officer say he or she pulled you over?

The police cannot pull you over for no reason. If the arresting officer lacked reasonable suspicion to pull you over, or if he or she lacked probable cause to make an arrest, any evidence obtained following your traffic stop may be inadmissible at trial.

What did you say to the arresting officer?

If you were lawfully arrested, anything you said to the arresting officer could be used against you in your case. Your New Jersey DUI defense attorney will need to know everything you said in order to address any incriminating statements you may have provided.

Additional Key Questions for Assessing Possible DUI/DWI Defenses:

Additional questions you can expect an experienced attorney to ask during your initial consultation include:

What were you doing in the hours prior to your arrest?
Was anyone else in your vehicle?
Were there any other witnesses to your arrest?
What were the weather and road conditions at the time of your arrest?
Whose vehicle were you driving?
Do you have any prior DUI/DWI arrests or convictions?
Did you understand everything the arresting officer told you?
How long after you were pulled over did you take the FSTs? The Alcotest?
Which FSTs did the arresting officer ask you to perform?
Did you request an independent BAC test?

Don't Let Too Much Time Pass. Contact a New Jersey DWI Lawyer from Our Firm Today

To speak with a New Jersey DWI attorney at Helmer, Conley & Kasselman, P.A. about your case, please call 1-877-HELMER1 or submit your case online. You can contact us 24/7, and if we are not available immediately, we will respond as soon as possible. As top defense lawyers, our DUI attorneys have offices throughout the state, including Salem, Trenton, Fort Lee, Clark, Freehold, Millville and more.
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