Penalties are harsh for people who get a first-time DUI in Piscataway to prevent other people from drinking and driving. You should work with an experienced attorney who understands the local laws and knows what you are going through.
A seasoned DUI attorney could offer your knowledgeable legal advice so you fully understand the charges and potential legal penalties. They could review the facts of your case, listen to your side of the story, and help you develop a solid defense strategy.
First-time DUI offenders in Piscataway face serious, mandatory penalties, including fines, loss of licenses, and even jail time. DUI cases appear before a municipal court judge instead of a criminal court jury.
While any blood alcohol level above .08 percent is legally above the limit, the precise blood alcohol level based on a Breathalyzer test determines the penalties that follow a DWI conviction.
People with blood alcohol levels between .08 and .10 percent face the following penalties:
In addition, they face restrictions on their driving abilities, such as the loss of their driver’s license for three months, an increase in their insurance premiums, and a possible ignition interlock system on their car.
People with blood alcohol levels of higher than .10 face more serious penalties, including higher fines, a mandatory interlock system on their car, and a seven-to-twelve-month loss of their driving privileges.
A knowledgeable local attorney could review the charges and explain the possible penalties so a defendant can make an informed decision about what steps to take.
While many people facing charges fear all cases involving drunk driving have no chance of dismissal, DUI cases are not always foolproof. The prosecution must prove every element of the charge beyond a reasonable doubt. In addition, the police and prosecution must follow the correct procedural steps for the arrest to be legal.
A dedicated lawyer could review the specifics of a case and search for problems. They could carefully examine the actions taken by the police when they made the initial traffic stop to determine whether the police had grounds to pull the defendant over or illegally made a choice to stop the defendant due to their racial identity. The legal team could also dispute the admission of any field sobriety tests into evidence, such as if those tests were administered on the side of a busy highway when it was clear the defendant was afraid.
Even the admission of a breath or blood alcohol test during a first-time DUI arrest in Piscataway is not foolproof, depending on how they were administered. A seasoned attorney could argue that if the police did not follow the correct chain of custody rules, someone could have tampered with the tests.
A trusted local attorney knows how to contest DUI charges fiercely and could represent a defendant in a hearing with the registry in the hopes of restoring their driving privileges.
Because the state is tough on drunk driving, even a charge of first-time DUI in Piscataway is something that you should take very seriously. You could face life-altering consequences if convicted, so you need to work with a lawyer who will be your one-two punch.
Contact a local attorney who is not afraid of anyone in the courtroom and would stand up to vigorously protect your rights.