Carl Herman:
If charged with a drunk
driving offense, ... your driving privileges and ability to drive
to work could be at stake. Hiring an attorney as soon as possible after
you are arrested (prior to your first scheduled appearance before the court) is to your benefit - delaying hiring counsel
may hurt you. New Jersey Supreme Court guidelines establish a sixty-day goal
to dispose of DWI charges. Since these cases take such high priority in the system and will be pushed forward by the court
aggressively, it is necessary for your attorney to act swiftly in gathering information.
The penalties and fines for driving
while intoxicated or "DWI" depend upon whether you have previously been convicted of DWI.
If you have a prior DWI conviction then the potential penalties and fines that you will face are greater, and could
include jail time. If your blood alcohol concentration is 0.10% or higher, then the statute imposes even greater penalties,
including longer periods of incarceration and loss of license.
Facing a drunk driving charge
like Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (DUI) or Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) can be a harrowing experience. The prospect
of DUI penalties such as jail, or the loss of a driver’s license, is not pleasant to contemplate. Your freedom and ability
to make a living may be at stake.
A DUI, DWI or Drunk Driving
arrest does not have to result in a conviction.