DWI Information

A Trenton, New Jersey, driver recently demonstrated how easy it is for a drunk driving traffic incident and DWI charges to turn into a laundry list of criminal charges. Last November, Robert Brandbergh, 49, sped through a traffic light on Route 29, striking a black Hyundai. The driver of that vehicle was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries, but Brandbergh didn’t stop. A witness pursued his vehicle and helped the police locate him after he fled the scene, still moving through traffic, near Route 1 and Perry Street.

Police tried to stop Brandbergh at that point, which the driver, swerving wildly and even hitting a guardrail, either ignored or was unaware of. He eventually tried to park his car on Plum Street, where police moved in and arrested him. The list of charges is lengthy – leaving the scene of an accident, DWI, failure to report an accident, failure to observe a signal, and two counts of reckless driving and careless driving.

It’s plain to see how one bad decision can cascade into a litany of problems, many with potentially serious legal consequences.

When you’re dealing with a DWI charge, or any of the many charges that can stem from a DWI incident, you need capable legal help right away. Matthew Reisig has helped more than 1,040 New Jersey drivers avoid conviction on DWI charges. Call 732-625-9660 today for a free consultation with an experienced New Jersey DWI defense lawyer.

A West Milford driver’s DWI stop provides a clear picture of one of the most common types of evidence in a DWI case. According to Mount Olive police, Paul Bachmann, 41, was seen driving erratically overnight on July 17 while proceeding on Route 46. Police pulled his black Honda over after he failed to maintain his lane.

During the stop, the arresting officer noted that he could detect the odor of an alcoholic beverage and observed that Bachmann appeared to be impaired. He was charged with DWI, reckless driving, failure to maintain a lane, and failure to exhibit an insurance card.

You can bet that if this case goes to court, the arresting officer will be on hand to testify that he witnessed evidence of the driver’s impairment, and could clearly smell the odor of alcohol. This is standard testimony in DWI cases in New Jersey, and fighting back against the assertions of a trained police officer can be an uphill climb. Still, every case has defenses, and every piece of evidence in a NJ DWI case can be challenged with the right legal help.

Don’t take for granted that your case is a done deal, regardless of the circumstances. Matthew Reisig has helped more than 1,040 New Jersey drivers avoid conviction on DWI charges. Call 732-625-9660 for a free consultation with an experienced DWI defense lawyer today.

A Florham Park ATV rider has been arrested on DWI and related charges following a crash in Millburn. Millburn police responded to reports of an ATV that had crashed on Passaic Avenue, and found Santos Rodriguez-Ocasio, 28, of Florham Park, on the scene with minor injuries.

Paramedics transported Rodriguez-Ocasio to St. Barnabas Hospital for treatment, and police later charged him with DWI, driving without a license, and two ATV violations.

It’s possible that Rodriguez-Ocasio thought that by taking a vehicle that wasn’t a car, he could avoid the risk of a DWI charge. Clearly that strategy failed not only in a legal sense, but in a safety and medical sense as well.

Operating any motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol in New Jersey puts you at risk for a DWI charge, and once police start investigating, you can trust them to throw every related infraction into the mix.

Don’t take that chance. If you’ve been stopped for DWI in New Jersey, get help right away. Call Matthew Reisig today at 732-625-9660 and talk to an experienced New Jersey DWI defense lawyer for free.

Did you know you can be arrested for DUI even if you’re not in your vehicle? That’s a lesson one New Jersey man learned after nodding off in the Budd Lake Diner. William J. Whelan, 44, of Rockaway, reportedly fell asleep at the counter of the diner and was subsequently awakened by a Mount Olive police officer. The officer smelled alcohol on Whelan and determined that he appeared to be impaired. Whelan was charged with DWI, reckless driving, and driving under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance.

New Jersey has some of the toughest DWI laws in the nation, and this case illustrates that it can even be charged when you’ve safely exited your vehicle. When you’ve been arrested for DWI in New Jersey, get experienced help right away. Matthew Reisig has helped more than 1,040 New Jersey drivers avoid conviction on drunk driving charges. Call 732-625-9660 today for a free consultation.

One arrest is usually enough to scare a person straight – not to mention sacrifice their license, in the case of DWI – but for one Jersey City man, the third time may have to be the charm.

Port Authority police stopped Jose Guallpa-Bravo, 29, in Jersey City when he was traveling eastbound on 12th Street near the Holland Tunnel. The driver gave authorities his license and registration, and their computer check showed that he had an active warrant out for a prior arrest for DWI two weeks before – and that he had been charged with another DWI just two weeks before that. Guallpa-Bravo was arrested and charged with bail jumping and various traffic violations. His matter will be heard in Jersey City Municipal Court.

Dealing with legal problems head on is the best way to get through them, and an experienced DWI attorney can help you mount an effective defense against DWI charges in New Jersey and protect your ability to drive. Call Matthew Reisig today at 732-625-9660 for a free consultation with an experienced New Jersey DWI defense lawyer.

As the summer season gets underway and more people are out and about, it’s helpful to revisit some of the things you should know if you come upon a DWI checkpoint in New Jersey. First, your rights remain protected during the interaction, if you choose to proceed through the checkpoint. You are not obligated to pass through a DWI checkpoint you see ahead of you, and can turn around or turn away without consequence.

If you do advance to the checkpoint, the only obligations you have as a driver are to show your driver’s license and registration to the police officers. Anything else, including the types of routine questions you would expect (“Had anything to drink tonight?”) you are permitted to decline to answer. If police ask to search your vehicle, you are within your rights to decline the search. If police decide they have enough evidence to arrest you for DWI at the checkpoint, you retain your right to remain silent, and you’d be well served to avoid answering any questions, or even chatting with the arresting officers. Everything you say can and will be used against you to prosecute your case.

Drive safely and be wise about DWI checkpoints in New Jersey, but if you find yourself in police custody because of allegations of intoxication, fight back. Matthew Reisig has helped more than 1,040 New Jersey drivers avoid conviction on DWI, and he can help you present the strongest, most persuasive case in your defense in the state. Call today at 732-625-9660 and talk to an experienced New Jersey DWI defense lawyer for free.