According to data provided by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), nearly 1.4 million Americans are arrested on DWI charges each year. Although anyone could be arrested on suspicion of impaired driving, the data is clear: Younger drivers are more likely to be charged with a DWI; and Male drivers are more likely to be …
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Read MoreDWI charges can be defended on a number of different grounds. In some cases, police officers make serious errors that violate the rights of the accused and/or render the evidence that they collected unreliable or inadmissible during the trial A DWI charge could potentially be dismissed because of law enforcement misconduct. In this article, our …
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Read MoreIn 2021, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act into law. The legislation dramatically reformed New Jersey’s marijuana laws creating a system for regulation and legalizing cannabis possession and use for adults 21 years of age and older. This raises an important question: How is …
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Read MoreIn 2012, Washington and Colorado became the first two U.S. jurisdictions to legalize the recreational use of marijuana (cannabis) at the state level. Over the last decade, many other states have followed, including New Jersey. On Nov. 3, 2020, New Jersey voters strongly supported Public Question 1 — an amendment to the state’s constitution that …
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Read MoreIf you are a truck driver and you are charged with a DWI in New Jersey, can you still maintain your CDL license? Or if you are planning to seek a CDL license in the future, can you obtain a CDL license if you have a DWI on your record? Under New Jersey law, there …
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Read MoreDriving while intoxicated (DWI) is a serious offense that can have serious consequences. It is important to understand that you can face DWI charges if you are accused of driving while under the influence of several different types of substances, not just alcohol. According to New Jersey law, driving while intoxicated charge can result from …
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Read MoreUnder N.J.S.A. 39:4-50(a), a person may not operate a motor vehicle “while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, narcotic, or habit producing the drug.” A DWI is a serious traffic offense in New Jersey. Being arrested for suspicion of driving while intoxicated can be stressful, confusing, and frightening. At the Law Office of Matthew V. …
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Read MoreLike 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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