If you have been arrested for Driving While Intoxicated in Elizabeth, you will be facing a number of legal, social, and economic consequences, which DWI defense lawyer John Menzel may be able to help you avoid.
Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) charges are among the most common charges you are likely to face in Elizabeth. In fact, New Jersey accounts for around 11% of all DWI arrests and incidents in the US, even though it has less than 3% of the country’s population. And yet, chances are you do not know exactly what you risk for your DWI, both in and out of the courtroom.
Unfortunately, most drivers in New Jersey find these out the hard way, when they are convicted, and in the years after. At that point, it is too late to fight back against those consequences, or the DWI charge, which is why you should learn about them now, before (or just after) you are arrested, while there is still time to fight them.
And you can fight them. Throughout New Jersey, DWI defense attorney John Menzel has built a career on contesting and clearing DWI charges, as well as negotiating pleas and lesser charges or pursuing alternative sentencing options to avoid the worst consequences of even second or third DWI charges.
Many factors contribute to how the prosecutor will charge you and what penalties you can face for a DWI conviction in Elizabeth. All of these have to be considered when anticipating the possible outcomes:
These are just the most important ones that many drivers will be faced with; ultimately, only the specific details of your case will predict what penalties you can face and how to beat them with the help of a skilled DWI defense lawyer.
While the potential penalties do range (sometimes quite dramatically) based on the factors above and the mood, mentality, and habits of the police, prosecutor and judge in Elizabeth, all DWI penalties do fall into pre-determined categories, some of which are more obvious than others.
The first concern for many drivers is whether they will be able to continue driving after a DWI conviction. Unfortunately, in most cases, the answer is no. Most DWI convictions come with mandatory driver’s license suspension, usually of 6 or 12 months.
First-time drivers for low enough tier alcohol based DWI charges without aggravating factors, however, are the exception. For most of these, all that will be required is the use of an Ignition Interlock Device on their vehicle for a 6 or 12-month duration. These devices prevent you from driving without first passing the in-built breathalyzer test, and you are not allowed to drive without one for the duration.
Nearly every DWI conviction comes with a fine, which grows exponentially with the severity of the charges against you. These financial penalties are meant as a deterrent and to cover some of the costs for the judicial system.
Many DWI convictions also come with a jail sentence, which will often be under probation conditions, but is still a dramatic restriction on your freedom. Only the most serious multiple-offense, felony injury or death causing DWIs come with prison time, but it is a possibility you need to be aware of.
The above penalties are those enshrined in the legal codes and laws of New Jersey, but for anyone convicted of any type of DWI charge in Elizabeth, there are other consequences than just the direct judicial ones. For example:
While the judicial penalties can be negotiated down or spared with alternative sentencing options, the consequences of a conviction can only be avoided by avoiding one in the first place, which is where the work of DWI lawyers like John Menzel is essential.
John Menzel J.D. | Successfully helping drivers in Elizabeth and throughout New Jersey beat DWI charges for decades.
It is hard to underestimate the gravity of even the least serious DWI charges, in terms of the consequences and repercussions they can have throughout your life. If you ever find yourself stopped, under arrest, or charged with DWI in Elizabeth, or anywhere in New Jersey, you may be able to avoid the worst or even all of these consequences with the help of DWI defense attorney John Menzel.
A recognized authority on DWI laws and police practices, attorney Menzel has defended drivers in every city and county of the state, and will know exactly how to handle yours.
To secure his help, just call (732) 218-9090 or reach out to our law firm online and schedule a consultation before those penalties are put in place and become a hundred times harder to remove.
(732) 218-9090