DUI

A year ago, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that 20,667 breathalyzer test results are inadmissible. The court determined that the results of the tests could not be trusted because the devices may not have been properly calibrated. That means that tens of thousands of DWI charges could be thrown out.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy in August 2019 enacted a new law that requires first-time DWI offenders to install ignition interlock devices (IIDs) in their cars. IIDs prevent a vehicle from starting if they detect alcohol in a driver's breath. In a press release, Murphy touted the law as a way to deter drunk driving without preventing offenders from providing for themselves and their families.

Your plans for New Year’s Eve might consist of watching the ball drop in Times Square from the comfort of your own home. However, if you’re like many New Jersey residents, you probably have a fun party or event to attend that night.

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are notoriously dangerous days to be out on the road. This risk is partly due to increased traffic, late-night celebrations, and drunk driving.

Unfortunately, fatal motor vehicle accidents continue to occur at an alarming rate. According to preliminary statistics released by the National Safety Council, 40,100 people were killed in motor vehicle accidents in 2017 and another 4.57 million people required medical attention. The number of fatalities exceeded 40,000 in 2016 as well.

In New Jersey alone, there have been approximately 371 fatalities so far this year according to public information provided by the New Jersey State Police. The fatalities by county include:

A DUI/DWI can have severe repurcussions. In addition to having your license suspended, you may also face possible jail time and steep fines. You don't need to simply accept your DUI charge, however. Our experienced DUI lawyers at Shapiro & Sternlieb, LLC have the knowledge and resources necessary to have your DUI dismissed if at all possible. We will aggressively fight for you and your rights, so call us at 732-617-8050 for your free consultation today. 

Labor Day weekend doesn't have quite the same reputation for barbecuing and drinking as Memorial Day or the Fourth of July. But any time Americans get a three-day weekend, there's likely going to be an increase in alcohol consumed and a corresponding increase in drunk drivers.