DWI Strategy & Results

In New Jersey, if you’re convicted of a Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) offense, it’s a serious situation. You may be wondering if this will leave you with a criminal record. The answer is not as straightforward as you might think. Technically, in the state of New Jersey, a DWI is not considered a criminal offense but rather a traffic violation. Therefore, if you are convicted of a DWI, you won’t have a “criminal record” in the traditional sense.

Let’s take a moment to unpack this. When we refer to a “criminal record,” we’re generally talking about a record of a person’s previous criminal convictions. These are typically crimes like theft, assault, or drug offenses that are prosecuted in a criminal court. A criminal record can make it hard to get a job, rent an apartment, or even get a loan.

In contrast, a DWI in New Jersey falls under the category of traffic offenses. Traffic offenses include things like speeding, running a red light, or yes, driving while intoxicated. These violations are usually handled by traffic courts rather than criminal courts.

But don’t be fooled into thinking that just because a DWI isn’t considered a criminal offense in New Jersey, it doesn’t have serious repercussions. It does, and they can be far-reaching.

So, what exactly happens if you’re convicted of a DWI in New Jersey? While you won’t have a criminal record, you’ll have a mark on your driving record, which is kept by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC). This mark on your driving record is a bit like a scarlet letter that follows you around. It can affect many aspects of your life, from your driving privileges to your insurance rates.  So let’s look a little closer at the penalties for DWI in NJ.

Firstly, your driving privileges can be suspended. Suspension periods can vary from 3 months to several years, depending on factors like your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at the time of the offense and whether it’s your first or a subsequent offense. Once you’ve served the suspension period, there are several steps, including attending mandatory alcohol education programs and paying hefty fines, you need to take to restore your driving privileges.

Then there’s the issue of car insurance. After a DWI, you may see your car insurance premiums skyrocket. Insurance companies view those with DWI convictions as high-risk drivers, which translates into higher insurance costs.

Furthermore, if you’re applying for jobs, especially ones that involve driving, your DWI could pose a problem. Many employers perform background checks, which typically include checking an applicant’s driving record. A DWI conviction might make them think twice about hiring you.

Even though you might not have a “criminal record” after a DWI conviction in New Jersey, the consequences can be long-lasting and far-reaching. The fine, the potential suspension of your driver’s license, the hikes in your car insurance rates, and the negative impact on job applications can all combine to make life very difficult.

It’s also important to note that just because a DWI isn’t considered a “criminal offense” in New Jersey, it doesn’t make it any less serious.

If you’ve been arrested for DWI in NJ, fighting a DWI with Reisig Law can save you money for years to come, and keep all doors open to you professionally.

Call us today at 732-625-9660 and talk to an attorney for free.

Voters in New Jersey’s fifth district might be breathing a sigh of relief about their electoral choices after a former candidate for its congressional seat was charged with drunk driving after crashing his pickup truck into a house in Newton.

Tod A. Theise, 55, of Hackettstown, was allegedly driving drunk with an open container of alcohol in his car around 2:00 in the afternoon on New Year’s Day when he lost control of the vehicle and it slammed into a house on High Street.

The crash reportedly caused serious damage to the house, which was ultimately determined to be an unsafe structure as a result.

Theise was charged with DWI, refusal, careless driving, and possession of an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle, and released to a sober adult pending a court appearance.

In 2010, he mounted a campaign to unseat former Representative Scott Garrett, who later lost the 2016 race to current Representative Josh Gottheimer.

Theise has not sought elected office since that race, and now it seems likely that he’s out of the politics game for good.

If you’ve been charged with DWI in New Jersey, don’t go it alone.

Matthew Reisig has helped more than 1,040 New Jersey residents avoid conviction on New Jersey DWI and related charges.

Call 732-625-9660 today for a free consultation with an experienced New Jersey DWI defense lawyer.

A man driving with a suspended New Jersey driver’s license is facing serious charges across the border in Pennsylvania after causing a 9-vehicle-accident that left another driver injured.

Responding to calls of shots fired, Easton, Pennsylvania, police arrived on the scene to find the massive wreck, with driver Raymond Shields, 28, too drunk to speak or perform field sobriety tests.

Another driver, who had been in a gray Honda Civic, suffered what police called a “serious bodily injury” and was transported to the hospital.

Shields made this very bad situation worse by providing police with a false name.

Eventually, officers located his driver’s license and learned that it was suspended, and that Shields has an outstanding arrest warrant in Essex County, on drug-related charges.

Shields is currently residing in Northampton County Prison after failing to post bail for a host of charges, including DUI, vehicular aggravated assault, giving a false ID to police, driving with a suspended license, and reckless driving.

When a DUI arrest leads to more serious charges, you need experienced help.

Matthew Reisig has helped more than 1,040 drivers avoid conviction for DWI in New Jersey.

Call 732-625-9660 and talk to a lawyer for free.

Not all drunk driving arrests result from drinking.

For one Pennsylvania man, it was allegedly being high on marijuana that prompted his arrest for driving while intoxicated.

On October 29, Hackettstown police stopped a vehicle on Route 182 for a run-of-the-mill moving violation.

However, when the officer approached the car and began talking to the driver, he noted a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside.

A subsequent search revealed that the driver, Gregory Hatcher of Downington, Pennsylvania, was in possession of a glass pipe appropriate for smoking marijuana, three joints, and a plastic baggie containing what police believe is marijuana residue.

Hatcher, 43, has been charged with DWI, expired registration, maintenance of lamps, possession of paraphernalia, possession of under 50 grams of marijuana, and driving under the influence of marijuana in NJ.

All in all, it was a bad night for Hatcher, who will likely be dealing with legal headaches for months to come.

If convicted, he may face jail time and will certainly lose his license and pay stiff fines for the misadventure.

Even in seemingly open and shut cases, there are defense strategies to be explored that can minimize your risk of serious consequences stemming from a traffic stop.

An experienced New Jersey DWI defense lawyer can make a big difference in your case.

Call Matthew Reisig today at 732-625-9660 and talk to a lawyer for free.

Investigators revealed that a State Police Officer had been improperly calibrating Alcotest devices for years back in 2016.

Thousands of New Jersey drivers who had been convicted of DWI after 2008 in five counties are waiting to learn whether their convictions could be thrown out.

Now, the state has a timeline to decide what happens, and for many, the holidays may be a happier time than they planned.

According to reports from last year, Sergeant Marc Dennis, a former coordinator with the State Police’s Alcohol Drug Testing Unit, routinely skipped a temperature calibration on Alcotest devices in Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Somerset, and Union counties over a period of eight years.

Some 20,000 drivers who were convicted of DWI in those counties during that period have now been notified that their cases are under review by a retired state supreme court appellate judge.

On November 28, he will rule whether the convictions can be supported based on the mis-calibration.

It’s possible that some or all of the impacted drivers will find their records wiped clean.

If you’ve been arrested for DWI in New Jersey, or have questions about an old case that may be impacted by this ruling, get the legal help you need.

Call Matthew Reisig today at 732-625-9660 for a free consultation.

In this week’s installment of “driving the wrong way gets you busted for drunk driving,” we have somewhat of a doozy.

Early on Saturday morning, Jaime Rivas, 56, of Haddonfield, New Jersey, provoked 911 calls from nearby drivers when he took off down the Long Island Expressway near Syosset – going the wrong way.

Police responded right away, and caught sight of Rivas’s 2007 Mercedes Benz as it drove eastbound in the westbound HOV lane, passing vehicles as it went.

Apparently Rivas realized something was wrong, because he then executed an extremely dangerous U-turn across all traffic lanes, before stopping on the shoulder close to Exit 44.

Police descended on the vehicle, finding Rivas himself with bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and smelling of alcohol.

He is facing a host of charges in Nassau County, New York, including DUI, reckless endangerment charges, and driving the wrong way.

Rivas’s story is just another reminder that sometimes the best course of action is to call a cab.

If you’ve been charged with DWI in New Jersey, get the kind of help that can make a difference for you.

Call Matthew Reisig today at 732-625-9660 and talk to an experienced New Jersey DWI defense lawyer for free.