Scholarship 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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Read MoreA DWI conviction can have serious repercussions on your eligibility for employment, financial loans, and even scholarships. If your previous career involved using a vehicle, you could even find yourself out of a job, and this is before taking into account the fines and penalties that could follow a conviction. This article answers a very …
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Read MoreThe state of New Jersey imposes several mandatory penalties for driving while intoxicated (DWI) and driving under the influence (DUI) offenders. The repercussions may include fines, jail time, driving license suspension, surcharges, and participation in the Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC). If you are convicted of a DUI, you may even be required to put …
Read MoreIn criminal law, a defendant’s actions can sometimes be excused if they can establish Duress/Coercion as a Defense to Criminal Charges in New Jersey. This defense may apply where a threat or actual physical force caused you to commit a crime. Consider a situation where someone threatens physical harm or holds a gun to your …
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Read MoreDUI, which means “driving under the influence,” and DWI, or “driving while intoxicated” are both terms used to describe the act of operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Every state has slightly varying laws concerning these charges, with some using the terms interchangeably. Is there a difference between DUI vs. …
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Read MoreWhen a victim of domestic violence testifies in court, their testimony can have a significant impact on the outcome of the case. In this article, we will answer the question: does the victim have to testify in a domestic violence case? We will also review what happens in the absence of a testimony and how …
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Read MoreAfter being convicted of a criminal offense in New Jersey, the court could place you on probation instead of sentencing you to jail or prison time. What happens when you violate the terms or conditions of your probation? This post reviews the different types of probation violations, their consequences, and how a New Jersey Criminal …
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