Each year, New Jersey’s police officers arrest more than 20,000 persons for driving under the influence. A DUI conviction in New Jersey comes with harsh penalties, especially for repeat offenders. Being convicted of a DUI can also disrupt your career, damage your reputation, and affect your personal life. If you have been arrested for a DUI, hiring an experienced DUI lawyer to defend you is your best chance for getting your case dismissed or having your charges and penalties reduced.
Whether you are still in jail, released on bail, or seeking a criminal defense lawyer for a loved one who was arrested and charged with a DUI in Haddonfield (or elsewhere in South Jersey, including Camden or Camden County), contact the skilled DUI defense lawyers at the Law Office of Matthew V. Portella, LLC at (856) 310-9800 for a free consultation. Our qualified legal team will evaluate the circumstances of your arrest, review your charges, and determine the best defense strategy for your situation.
Our Results Defending DUI Charges
The DUI defense lawyers at the Law Office of Matthew V. Portella have more than two decades of experience defending clients in criminal cases, including those who have been charged with drunk driving and DUI-related offenses.
The firm’s dedicated legal team is passionate about advocating for clients and protecting their rights as they go through the judicial process.
Whether this is your first DUI or you have been convicted of a DUI in the past, New Jersey and federal law guarantee you due process of law. The attorneys at the Law Office of Matthew V. Portella cannot guarantee any particular outcome for your case, but if you choose to work with us we can guarantee that we will aggressively pursue the best results possible for your individual circumstances.
How Does New Jersey Define a DUI?
Under New Jersey law, a person is guilty of driving under the influence if they “operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, narcotic, hallucinogenic or habit-producing drug, or operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or more.”
New Jersey’s strict DUI laws differ from many other states because, in addition to punishing those who drive under the influence themselves, the law also provides penalties if a person allows someone else who is under the influence to drive.
The penalties for DUI in New Jersey differ based on whether the driver is a first-time offender or has been previously convicted of a DUI, and how intoxicated they were at the time of their arrest. New Jersey categorizes DUIs by blood alcohol concentration (BAC) into three classes:
- DUI with BAC ranging from 0.08 up to 0.10
- DUI with BAC ranging from 0.10 to 0.15
- DUI with BAC above 0.15
New Jersey has a zero-tolerance law for minors who consume alcohol and get behind the wheel. If you have been charged with a DUI and you are younger than 21, your age will typically play more of a role in your penalties than your BAC.
Penalties for New Jersey DUI Convictions
If you are convicted of a DUI in New Jersey, you may face a wide array of penalties depending on your history with alcohol, your driving record, and your BAC at the time of your arrest. Penalties for first, second, and third offenses are as follows:
First Offense
New Jersey law outlines the following penalties when a driver is convicted of a DUI for the first time and their BAC is between 0.08 and 0.10 percent:
- A fine of $250 to $400
- Up to 30 days of jail time
- Two consecutive days at an Intoxicated Driver Resource Center
- A $1,000 auto insurance surcharge for three years
- Suspension of driver’s license until the installation of an ignition interlock device (IID).
- First-time offenders with a blood alcohol of 0.08 to 0.10 percent will be required to have an IID installed in their vehicle for three months. Failure to install an IID will result in a mandatory 18-month license suspension.
When a driver’s BAC is more than 0.10 and less than 0.15, the driver faces the following penalties after their first DUI conviction:
- A fine of $300 to $500
- Up to 30 days in jail
- Two consecutive days at an Intoxicated Driver Resource Center
- A $1,000 auto insurance surcharge for three years
- Be required to have an IID installed in their vehicle for seven to 12 months.
A first-time offender who has a blood alcohol count above 0.15 percent will have their license suspended for four to six months, and have an IID installed during and after the suspension for nine to 15 months. The New Jersey Legislature recently expanded the use of ignition interlock devices as a response to the state’s high DUI rate.
Second Offense
In New Jersey, when a person is convicted of a second DUI, they face the following penalties:
- A fine of between $500 and $1,000
- A minimum of two days in jail, which can be increased to up to 90 days
- Mandatory license suspension from 12 to 24 months
- Two consecutive days at an Intoxicated Driver Resource Center
- Mandatory community service for 30 days
- A $1,000 auto insurance surcharge for three years
- Installation of an ignition interlock device for between one and three years
Third Offense
When a habitual drunk driver is convicted three or more times of a DUI in New Jersey, they face the following mandatory penalties:
- A $1,000 fine
- Six months of jail time
- An 8-year license suspension
- Mandatory attendance at an in-patient alcohol treatment program
- Mandatory community service for 30 days
- An additional fee payable to the Intoxicated Driver Resource Center
- A $1,500 auto insurance surcharge for three years
- Installation of an ignition interlock device for between one and three years
Get the Legal Help You Need From a Skilled Haddonfield DUI Lawyer
A DUI conviction is a serious life event that can carry many negative consequences. Beyond formal penalties like fines and jail time, you might lose your job, wreck personal relationships, and find it difficult to gain meaningful employment after a conviction. When you hire a Haddonfield DUI lawyer to advocate for you and protect your rights, you are investing in your future.
If you or a loved one was arrested and charged with a DUI in Haddonfield, or anywhere in South Jersey, including Camden or Camden County, contact the skilled DUI attorneys at the Law Office of Matthew V. Portella, LLC at (856) 310-9800 or online for a free consultation to discuss the details of your case.