As a NJ DWI Attorney, I know all the anxiety you feel when faced with an intoxicated driving charge. If you were arrested, I'm here to give you some information about your rights and how to fight this case.
If you've been arrested for drunk driving charges in NJ, you're faced with the possibility of losing your license for up to seven years. Your insurance rates can go up, and you may even find that other employers don't hire you due to this arrest on your record. If you've previously been convicted of drunk driving or if you're currently behind bars, you may not even be able to get a job. In many states, it's easier to lose your license than it is to be convicted of a crime. Read more about this lawyer today.
The first thing that I'll discuss is whether you have a right to an attorney representing you before the judge. Your best option is to hire a NJ DWI Attorney, especially if you've been arrested in NJ for being drunk. A NJ DWI lawyer will explain the penalties you could face should you be convicted. The following penalties depend upon a conviction of drunk driving with a blood alcohol content above 0.08%, but less than 0.11%. If you have no prior convictions, the judge won't be able to impose any penalties at all. However, if you have a history of drunk driving and you're going to trial, a DWI lawyer can help you make sure your case is dismissed or reduced to a lesser offense.
Another way to protect your rights is to conduct a criminal record search on the arresting officer. In most states, anyone who works as an officer of the law has to undergo a criminal background check before they can work as a law enforcement officer. So if you're a police officer who arrested a suspect or even a bystander who witnessed a drunk driving incident, it's important that you investigate their past for signs of abuse or drug use. Click here for more details about this service.
Some states allow a DWI lawyer to help you defend yourself in an arraignment. If you choose this option, your attorney can help prepare your case and bring it to the court house so that he can cross-examine witnesses and present evidence against the arresting officers.
The last thing you want is to end up in jail, but end up having a DWI Attorney who is more interested in keeping money in his pocket than helping you out. So choose wisely. When looking for a New Jersey DWI Attorney, check his or her references, and ask if they are able to hire outside counsel on a contingency basis. To get more enlightened on this topic, see this page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawyer.