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New Jersey's Statewide Effort to Reduce Drunk Driving
New Jersey law enforcement officers target drunk drivers during the year's busiest travel days, including the winter holiday season, New Year's Eve, and the summer travel season.
December 18, 2011 /Law and Legal PR News/ -- New Jersey's Statewide Effort to Reduce Drunk Driving
In 2009, nearly 600 people lost their lives on New Jersey highways. Of that number, 25 percent died as a result of alcohol-related crashes. Those numbers bring heightened scrutiny -- and punishments -- to those convicted of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Since 1999, New Jersey's Department of Law & Public Safety has campaigned on the "Over the Limit, Under Arrest" program. This campaign has law enforcement officers targeting drunk drivers during the year's busiest travel days, including the winter holiday season, New Year's Eve, and the summer travel season. This year, the state's brand new "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign is looking out for drunk drivers from December 5 until January 2.
DUI Penalties in New Jersey
Holiday crackdowns result in serious penalties for those convicted of drunk driving. Under New Jersey law, any person who operates a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or greater can be charged with DUI. A DUI conviction could result in administrative and criminal penalties, including fines, license suspension, incarceration and community service. Depending on the circumstances, a person may be required to install an ignition interlock device in their vehicle. This device prevents the car from starting if, after blowing into the device, the driver registers a BAC above a certain limit.
Penalties increase depending on the circumstances of the DUI and previous offenses. If the driver charged with a DUI has been convicted of a DUI within the previous 10 years, for example, the driver faces a license loss of up to 2 years, up from 3 months for a first-time DUI. If the driver is intoxicated and underage children are in the vehicle, penalties also increase.
Alcohol violations are not limited to just traffic offenses. If a drunk driver kills another person while on the road they will be charged with DUI and felony vehicular homicide.
People make mistakes, especially during a stressful and social Holiday season. But a DUI conviction can result in a license suspension and difficulties traveling to work, not to mention jail time and the embarrassment of having to blow into an ignition interlock device before your car will start. If you have been charged with a DUI, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney who can protect your rights in court and possibly mitigate some of the harsh and even life-changing penalties.
Article provided by Harold J Cassidy & Associates
Visit us at www.thecassidylawfirm.com/
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