DUI Lawyer Brick New Jersey

Serving Clients Faced with Driving Under the Influence Charges Across Ocean and Monmouth Counties

Brick NJ DUI Lawyer

If you received a ticket for drunk driving in Ocean or Monmouth County New Jersey, you should seek help from an experienced attorney who can best defend your case.  Drunk driving is not technically a crime but can have serious consequences that will negatively impact your life for months if not years into the future.

Although the number of DWI arrest cases in Ocean County has dropped down in the last two years from 2,010 cases in 2017 to 1,935 in 2018, there are still a considerable amount of DUI/DWI charges issued each year. You can be charged with driving while intoxicated under N.J.S.A 39:4-50 if an officer suspects that you are driving while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled dangerous substance that impairs your ability to drive

At The Bronzino Law Firm, our Criminal Law Team manages all aspects related to driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. We take pride in serving the local community in towns across Monmouth and Ocean County including Brick office, Toms River, Point Pleasant, Wall, and Spring Lake. Our team of attorneys offers highly personalized legal services at competitive rates.

Please call our Brick or Sea Girt, NJ offices today at (732) 812-3102, to speak with one of our attorneys in a free and confidential consultation or feel free to request a free legal case evaluation in our website.

Pulled Over for Driving Under the Influence in New Jersey

In most cases, an officer observes someone driving and believes that the driver committed a motor vehicle infraction. It is common for an officer to report that he saw a driver do something such as: cross over a yellow or white line in the roadway, fail to signal a lane change or turn or swerve (fail to maintain a lane). The above gives the officer the right to pull the driver over and talk to the person. The officer takes other information into account as well. For example, time of day, the location of the car, where the driver may be coming from or driving to, and the speed of the vehicle are all critical factors.

Once pulled over, the officer speaks to the driver and begins to look for signs of impairment.  For instance, does the person smell like alcohol? Does the driver speak clearly or is his speech slow and slurred? Are his eyes bloodshot and watery? These are only a few examples of what an officer may look for when assessing a driver for possible intoxication. If he suspects that a driver is under the influence, he will then ask the driver to step out of the car and have him perform field sobriety tests.

Alcotest and and Drug Recognition Expert if Officer Has Found Probable Cause on a Jersey Shore Roadway

If the officer has probable cause to believe that the driver is operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, he will take him back to the police station and administer the Alcotest breathalyzer to determine if there is any alcohol in the driver´s system. If the blood-alcohol reading from the Alcotest is 0.08 or higher, the driver will be charged with a DUI.  In the event, that blood alcohol reading is below the legal limit, but the police officer still believes the person is under the influence, he can even charge the driver with a DUI.  If there is no sign of alcohol, but the officer thinks the driver is under the influence, he will charge the person and try to prove that he has some other substance in his system such as illegal or prescription drugs. Often, a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) will be called to perform an analysis to determine the presence of drugs in a driver’s system. This DRE report may be entered as evidence in court.

The Process of an Ocean County DWI Case

If you were charged with a DUI and given a ticket, it is likely that you were given the notice to appear in municipal court.  Municipal court is where most motor vehicle tickets and non-felony offenses are scheduled.  If you have a felony offense and a motor vehicle ticket was issued in addition to the felony/indictable, then your matter will be heard in Superior Court.

Upon retaining our firm, we will send in a notice to the court and the prosecutor advising that we represent you.  We also request discovery and any proof of the DUI that the state has and intends to use against you.

Our attorneys review the discovery and look for discrepancies, mistakes, or issues with the testing machines and procedures.  We also determine if the initial stop appears to have been legal or if you have any possible defense due to lack of probable cause.

It is important to note that there are no plea negotiations in DUI cases in New Jersey unless there are legitimate proof issues. The Attorney General of New Jersey has warned municipal prosecutors against negotiating cases for lesser suspensions or fines.

DUI Penalties in Monmouth County NJ

The consequences of a DUI are serious.  DUI cases can result in license suspensions, fines, penalties, court costs, state and insurance surcharges, points on your license, possible installation of interlock ignition devices (added costs) and a mandatory driver’s education program. The minimum license suspension is 3-7 months (first offense), and the minimum fine is $250.  If convicted, you will have to complete all conditions of the sentence, pay all fines, pay all surcharges, complete the driving program, and pay a restoration fee before you can begin to drive again.  New Jersey does not permit licenses to allow you to travel to and from work (provisional license). If your license is suspended, you cannot drive for any reason until it is restored. If convicted of DWI, there is also a potential to spend some time in the county jail.

Contact Toms River DUI/DWI Attorneys Today!

If you are charged with a DUI, you need an experienced attorney who knows what to look for, how to evaluate your case, and what defenses are available.  The Bronzino Law Firm has experience serving local clients from Brick and all across Ocean County. Our attorneys know how to read between the lines and be sure your rights are protected according to the laws of the state.  If you or a loved one are facing DUI/DWI charges, get in touch with one of our attorneys who will review your case. We provide our clients with the professional advice and tools they will need to navigate the difficult and complicated process.

Please contact us online or call one of our offices, in Brick or Sea Girt, today at (732) 812-3102 or visit us online to fill a form for a free and confidential consultation regarding your charges.