Like every other U.S. state, the legal age for consuming alcohol in New Jersey is 21 years old. Under New Jersey law (N.J.S.A. 2C:33-15), an individual can be cited for a criminal offense for underage possession and/or consumption of alcohol. Beyond the laws against drinking while younger than 21, the state also has a specialized …
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Read MoreTechnically speaking, New Jersey does not have “felonies” and “misdemeanors.” Instead, the state classifies offenses as “indictable crimes” and “disorderly persons” offenses. As a result, this raises an important question: “if I am cited for a traffic violation in New Jersey, have I been charged with a crime?” The short answer is “no.” Traffic violations …
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Read MoreWhile not one of the most severe charges under New Jersey law, a conviction for disorderly conduct carries significant penalties including fines and jail time. There are many myths and misconceptions about what exactly constitutes disorderly conduct under state law. At the Law Office of Matthew V. Portella, LLC, we make sure you understand your …
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Read MoreAs broadly defined by the New Jersey State Police’s outline, domestic violence is “a pattern of physical, emotional, verbal, and sexual abuse, which includes, but is not limited to, threats, intimidation, isolation, and/or financial control.” To better understand the issue of domestic abuse, it is useful to look at the data. In this article, our …
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Read MoreWhen domestic violence accusations are made against someone, the alleged victim may seek a restraining order against the alleged perpetrator. In New Jersey, a court can enter a temporary restraining order with relatively little evidence. In this article, our New Jersey domestic violence defense lawyer discusses the key things to know about restraining orders in …
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Read MoreAccording to data provided by the New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), approximately 26,500 people are convicted of DWI offenses in the state each year. Tens of thousands more are cited for reckless driving. In many cases, a defendant could face a DWI charge and a reckless driving charge at the …
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Read MoreScholarship winner, Arianna Davis We would like to congratulate Arianna Davis for being selected as the 2021 recipient of the Law Office of Matthew V. Portella, LLC $500 scholarship! Arianna Davis is a junior at Rutgers University studying English with a minor in Film Studies. She made Dean’s Lists during the end of her freshman year …
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Read MoreOn February 22, 2021, Governor Phil Murphy signed a series of cannabis reform bills into law. The legislation legalizes recreational cannabis use and possession for adults 21 years old and older. It decriminalizes certain marijuana offenses and changed the penalties from criminal to civil fines. The action has received mixed reactions. While some appreciate the …
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Read MoreA DUI charge is disruptive on its own but can be much more so if you were planning to leave the state when you were arrested. Can you move out of state with a pending DUI? If you do, will the DUI/DWI charge follow you and cause interruptions in your life? Below, we answer these …
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Read MoreAccording to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), alcohol-related auto accidents claim over 10,000 lives and cost the country over $52 billion a year. This can explain why New Jersey has very strict DWI laws and penalties and why getting charged with a DWI can be scary. Don’t lose hope, however, if you’ve been …
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