NJ DWI Articles:

New Jersey DWI Law Comments

Let your voice be heard -- rant a little if you have to -- sound off about New Jersey DWI Laws, the System, the Court's Process, etc. Here's Your Chance!

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"How do I go about reversing the drunk driving laws in the state of NJ? All of us have sat back and allowed MADD to dictate what our drunk driving laws should be, and for the most part most are opposed to the present restrictions and penalties that follow if pulled over. I understand these peoples anguish for the lose of a loved one. And I would ask if they had ever left a bar, restaurant, or party and gotten behind the wheel at above .08. I do agree there should be drunk driving laws, but the present allowable rate is ridiculous, and the penalties that follow are harsh.

I know someone who had left a picnic a couple of years ago, he had drank two cans of beer over the four hours at the picnic. On the way home it was dusk and he was traveling on back roads, a deer jumped out in front of him totaling his new car. A state trooper pulled up a few moments later smelled the beer and had him take a sobriety test, for which he had failed, being .09. He had to have his car towed several miles costing him several hundred dollars and called his parents to come and bail him out. When he appeared in court the judge pulled his license, and fined him several thousand dollars, as well as imposing a state surcharge. He was also required to go to classes for which his parents had to drive him, and required to attend a number of AA meetings. Since his accident resulted in a drunk driving ticket and arrest, his insurance company would not cover the cost of the car. So he is still paying for a car that is in the junk yard. Since his job was that of one that required him to drive he was instantaneously fired. When and if he ever does get another car he will have to spend several thousand dollars to have a devise installed in it, that will not allow him to start the engine until he can breath into it and be under .08. All total the costs related to the two beers and the laws brought about by MADD have cost this young man his career, $35,000 for a car he does not own, $10,000 dollars + in fines surcharges and costs for classes and AA meetings, plus the cost of this devise that he will need if he ever drives again. I drove this young man to an AA meeting the other night. I have never seen such depression in someone so young, and as I sat there in that parking lot for the hour that the meeting was going on, I saw driver after driver men and women come in and stagger to the door. As I had said, I am not opposed to drunk driving laws, but I do think that it has gotten out of hand, and if the police can not keep the severely intoxicated individuals off the road such as the ones I saw at the meeting, then what good are they doing anyway, other then destroying young peoples lives. So to MADD I say you have done more harm then you ever thought you would do good. Get off your high horse. The people of the state of NJ need to speak up and get these laws reversed. I say if they don't change them vote the administration out. It's about time the representatives in Trenton started to listen to all of the people of the state and not just the ones who have time to sit on their front door."

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"My son will be appearing in court this week for his second dui. His first was around 8 years ago at the Jersey Shore and his blood alcohol level was just over the limit. His second was this February, parked in a parking lot and listening to loud music. That is reason for the police coming to his vehicle. He was playing loud music because he was in a bi-polar emotional breakdown state and went into the hospital shortly thereafter for several weeks. If he were not in the state he was in he would not have been intoxicate behind the wheel or playing loud music at 3:00 am in the morning. All of this was out of character. However I am still in favor of the law and his license will undoubtedly be suspended but so be it. More important for the public to be safe. If we don't have these strict laws the public's safety is at risk."

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"Too strict. Majority of offenders are most likely one and done, but the laws and restrictions make it difficult for people to make it through the entire program."

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"In the movie Goodfellas, when Jimmy, Deniro's character, hands a box of ciggarettes to cops, they say "We'd complain, but who'd listen?". Reffering to the sarcasm of actually ratting on Jimmy, because even they are getting paid of for him. Now, it's all the other way. We'd all like to complain on the lawmakers, and even our rights to get to and from work, when you have a dui, but really "who'd listen?"

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"reformation of man's mind is what is in order and until we deceide to get the DEVIL ouot of our systems and respect one another than who cares about mashing out their neighbor after a case and a half or a couple of fifths of liquor. I empathizes with those are out raged at the ridiculously shrinking BAC% but also the lack of care for those in need of help mercy is the needed component to justice"

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"i just know that i just lost my job..which is great because i have fines to pay..a daughter who has a life threating illness and requires doctors visits and often hospitalization..i live in a state with a horrible public transportation system..and somehow..im supposed to find a job without a car..all this while doing community service and attending these stupid meetings..now that thats out..i cant believe how absolutley unamerican this entire proccess felt..no right to an attorney??i couldnt believe it..to this day i still dont understand it..id have been better off hijacking a car at gun point to get home.least then id have rights as a criminal.so you know this is my first offense and i was not in an accident..im all for throwing the book at someone on there 2nd ..3rd dui or someone who injures or kills someone..but the penalties ive incurred have broken me.. "

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"People must drive - alcoholism is a disease and should be treated as such. My husband was destroyed by getting 3 DUI's in two months - he was over medicated by two physicians. The medication caused him to nearly lose his mind. There is no defense for this in NJ. Sentences are mandatory. He no longer drinks nor takes medication but he cannot drive for 10 years. Where is the justice here? No one was hurt during this time period but my husband. His parents are in their late 80s and no longer drive and he cannot help them. This is so wrong."

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"On a third offense I feel that jail time is not necessary unless there is injury to another party 10 years loss of license is more then enough I do feel there should be a go to work license people do have families to support."

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"Just put breathylizers on the ignition of all cars. Problem solved."

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"I'd like to know why the same laws don't apply to RICH people and movie stars? For God's sake, they have LIMO drivers!!! There is no excuse in my opinion."

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"I think people should have a 9-5 WORK license with proof of employment. If breathylizers were hooked up to ignitions, people COULDN'T drive drunk. NJ just wants our money. Hardened criminals are allowed out on "work release" for God's sake!!!"

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"Too punitive for first offense. In IL you are allowed a once per lifetime supervision in lieu of a DWI conviction."

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"MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT"

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"There should be an allowance for a special license , so an individual does not lose his livihood to make a living. Especially, for 1st offenders."

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"Since new jersey does not view dwi as a criminal offense, i feel it is incorrect to be able to sentence offenders who have not injured anyone to jail. what they should do is either make it a criminal offense or make changes to the existing law: such as, impound the vehicle on the first offense and put the interlock device in. It is ridiculous to take someone's liscense away and then to make it impossible to register or insure the vehicle. which means that the person who has the problem will just be driving without the interlock, also with no liscense and also with no insurance or registration. this makes no sense. it needs to be nipped in the bud. it is a disease and they need to be placed into a state rehab, dried out and then be able to get to and from work with a interlock device vehicle. and of course the state should levy their wages to cover the fines. i think this would work very well. thank you

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"I think Jail time for driving suspened on a DUI is a joke the repeat affenders that are in jail do not get it and really do not care. I think it would be better to put a breath analyzer on the persons car at owner exspense. O thats right it would take money out of the Judges , and lawyers pockets. NJ is a joke . its all about money"

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"The penalties are too harsh for first offenders.I would like to see a dui remove from someones record after ten yrs if no further convictions.Also underage dui should be removed at 21."

Call on New Jersey DWI lawyer, Greggory M. Marootian when you need
experienced professionals to give you the facts, and restore your integrity.

New Jersey DWI Lawyer Greggory M. Marootian, Esq.

New Jersey DWI Law Comments