Traffic Violations

Traffic Violation Cases We Handle in Monmouth County

At The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, our firm represents individuals and residents who have received traffic violations in Monmouth County. In New Jersey, the penalties for traffic violations depend on the level of the offense.

We handle a variety of traffic offense cases, including:

Speeding Tickets

If you get a speeding ticket, the amount of your fine depends on where you were speeding and how many miles per hour over the limit you were driving. If you are going 1-9 mph over the limit, your fine is $85. The fine is $180 if you were driving 15-19 mph over the limit. If you were driving between 30-39 mph over the limit, your fine is between $240-$260. Other factors could increase the fine. If you are speeding in in a school crossing, a construction zone, or through a crosswalk, your fines will increase.

Reckless and Careless Driving

Most people think that careless and reckless driving are the same, but this is not the case in New Jersey. The difference between careless and reckless driving is the driver’s intent. Careless driving implies that the driver did not intend to break the law but drove in a careless manner. For example, the driver might be fiddling with the radio and drift into another lane.

Reckless driving is driving with a wanton disregard for the law. A reckless driver is driving in a manner that endangers another person or property. For a driver to be convicted of reckless driving, it must be proven from eyewitness testimony that the person’s driving was unsafe and on purpose. Some examples of reckless driving include crossing in front of an approaching train or driving erratically in and out of traffic to pass other cars on the road.

If you are found guilty of reckless driving, you can receive up to 60 days in jail, a fine between $50-$200, or both. In addition, your driver’s license can be suspended for up to 90 days. If it is the second conviction, you can receive three months in jail, a fine between $100-$500, or both. You can also lose your driver’s license for up to 180 days. A careless driving offense adds 2 points to your driving record, while a reckless driving offense adds 5.

Driving with a Suspended License

There are several reasons that your driver’s license can be suspended. The main reasons include an accumulation of too many motor vehicle points, failure to pay insurance or a lapse of insurance coverage (administrative suspension). Driver licenses can also be suspended for reckless driving and DUI/DWI.

The penalties for driving without a valid license can seriously affect your life.

• First Offense – Includes a fine of $500 and an additional period of license suspension of up to 6 months for a first offense.
• Second Offense – Includes a fine of $750, but the maximum period your license is suspended remains at 6 months. A jail sentence of 1 to 5 days applies.
• Third Offense – A fine of $1,000, revocation of your license for as much as 6 additional months, and 10 days of incarceration apply.

The penalties for driving with a suspended license can vary, depending on situations falling outside of enhancement. If a driver with a suspended license is involved in an accident resulting in personal injury, gets a DWI, or is driving without insurance, the penalties are enhanced. You can also be charged with fourth-degree driving while suspended if your license is suspended for drunk driving/refusal, you have a prior conviction for violating N.J.S.A. 39:3-40, or if it is a suspension for a second or subsequent driving under the influence violation.

Driving without Insurance

Drivers have an obligation to maintain proper automobile liability insurance coverage on vehicles registered or principally garaged in New Jersey. An owner is guilty of driving without insurance if they operate their uninsured vehicle on a public roadway. A non-owner who is driving an uninsured vehicle may be in violation if they know or should know that the vehicle is uninsured. Circumstances that can imply reasonable notice that a vehicle is uninsured may include the lack of an insurance card or the presence of one that is expired.

There are severe penalties for operating a car, truck, motorcycle or another motor vehicle without liability insurance, and the penalties hinge on many factors. For a first offense, the mandatory penalties include a fine of $300-$1,000, a 1-year driver’s license suspension and the possibility of imposition of a period of community service. With a repeat offense, there is a fine of up to $5,000, 14 days in jail, and 30 days of community service at the time of sentencing on a second offense (or subsequent violation). The driver also faces an annual Division of Motor Vehicles surcharge of $250 for a period of 3 years if driving without insurance.

Leaving the Scene of an Accident

The statute N.J.S.A. 39:4-129 is rather lengthy and outlines the ramifications of leaving the scene of an accident. The statute requires a driver to remain at the scene if they are knowingly involved in an accident involving injury, property damage, or death. This means that the driver is aware the accident occurred or they know that there is a high probability that an accident happened. Knowledge is also presumed if the accident resulted in injury or death, or there is property damage in the amount of $250 or more.

The penalties for leaving the scene of an accident are dependent on damages and injuries that are sustained in the accident, such as:

• Accident with Personal Injury – For a first offense, there is a 1-year driver’s license suspension, 180 days in jail and $2,500-$5,000 fine. The license suspension escalates to life for a second offense. There is also an assessment of 8 motor vehicle points.
• Damage to Property or Vehicle – The penalties for a first offense include a $200-$400 fine, up to 30 days in jail, and a 6-month license suspension. A second or subsequent accident resulting in damage carries a fine of $400-$600, 30-90 days in jail, and a 1-year revocation of your license.

A ticket for leaving the scene of an accident, a summons under 39:4-129 can be issued within 1 year of the violation.

Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) in a Motor Vehicle

The violation for possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) is a traffic ticket, but the penalties are significant if you are found guilty. N.J.S.A. 39:4-49.1 imposes harsh penalties for CDS possession in a motor vehicle. The person operating the vehicle faces a fine and mandatory 2-year suspension of driving privileges. If it is accompanied by a charge of criminal possession, the driver will not be eligible to get the suspension reduced or dismissed by demonstrating hardship.

There are 5 elements that must be established to convict you for driving with a CDS in your vehicle beyond a reasonable doubt, which include:

1. You were ere the operator of a motor vehicle.
2. You were driving on a highway.
3. You were in possession of CDS or a prescription legend drug.
4. A CDS was located on your person or within the vehicle.
5. Your conduct was knowing.

The law applies to drivers and not to individuals who are occupants of a motor vehicle. A person can be convicted only if his or her conduct is knowing. In other words, the driver was aware that drugs were in the car, truck, motorcycle or other vehicle being operated. You have a strong defense against this charge if you were unaware that your passenger was in possession of drugs.

DUI/DWI

New Jersey has some of the toughest penalties for DUI/DWI. It is one of very few states where a provision for a work license is not allowed and where suspension of driving privileges is mandatory for a first offense. Plea bargaining in these types of traffic cases is prohibited. The judge presiding over your DUI/DWI case cannot downgrade your charge unless there is a flaw in the prosecution’s case. Fines, surcharges and other penalties for a DUI/DWI in New Jersey are severe if you are convicted.

In a DUI/DWI case, the state can use scientific evidence or Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST) to prove a case. Prosecutors typically use a breath test reading of 0.08% or higher to establish intoxication. If this test fails because of a malfunction or another reason, police can still rely on the results of a SFST to convict. An attorney will have to invalidate both forms of proof to avoid a DUI conviction since plea bargaining is illegal and not an option.

Why You Need an Attorney to Fight Traffic Violations in New Jersey

Most tickets can be downgraded or eliminated by an experienced traffic violation defense attorney. If law enforcement conducted a sloppy investigation, including misidentifying witnesses, providing a wrong depiction of the violation or the accident scene, or failing to document evidence that may have been in your favor, your case could be reduced or dismissed.

When contesting tickets, it is possible to challenge the prosecution’s evidence in your traffic violation case. For example, a radar gun used to determine your speed could be defective or not properly maintained, or surveillance camera footage could cast doubt that you drove through a traffic light.

If you were charged with several traffic violations, the prosecution could be willing to drop certain charges in exchange for a guilty plea to the most serious traffic offense. In another instance, the charges could be reduced or dismissed if you agree to participate in a driver improvement program.

In the case of a DWI, two attorneys at our firm, including Jonathan Marshall and Colin Bonus, have exceptional training in both breathing and SFST. Four of our attorneys are certified as Draeger Alcotest 7110 operators, which is a machine used by law enforcement in Monmouth County. With this knowledge, we can provide an experienced DUI/DWI defense to prove the test was inaccurate or faulty.

Contact Our Monmouth County Traffic Violation Defense Attorneys for Help

If you have been arrested, charged or received a traffic citation, it is in your best interests to hire a lawyer immediately. If you are facing a serious traffic violation or several violations, you need to have to have a strong, aggressive attorney on your side to assist in your defense.

Some of the lawyers at The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall are former Monmouth County Prosecutors and Municipal Prosecutors who have over 100 years’ experience between them handling DWI and traffic offenses for clients. Contact us for a free consultation today to discuss your legal options.