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Turnersville DUI and DWI Defense Lawyer

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    Facing a DWI or DUI can be frightening and humiliating. Drivers are sometimes inclined not to resist the charges and put up no real defense so that they can move on from the whole ordeal. Instead, you should speak to an experienced lawyer who can help you determine the most effective defense strategies for your case. Remember, while people might look down on drivers with DUIs, you still have the right to defend yourself.

    If you are pulled over, remain calm and cooperate with law enforcement. If they arrest you, you are legally required to submit to chemical testing at that point. Once you contact a lawyer, go over the possible penalties of your charges. Penalties for DUIs and DWIs depend on how many times you have been convicted of the same offense. If this is your first time, the penalties will be more lenient, at least compared to those for defendants with a history of DUIs. Your lawyer can identify weak points in the prosecutor’s case and help you mount an effective defense.

    Call the Lombardo Law Group, LLC at (609) 418-4537 and get a free, private case evaluation from our DUI and DWI defense lawyers.

    What You Should Do if You Are Stopped for a DWI or DUI in Turnersville

    Being stopped by the police can be a very nerve-racking experience, and you need to keep your cool and cooperate with the police to the best of your ability. However, this does not mean you have to say yes to everything the police ask you to do.

    It is common for the police to ask DWI suspects to perform field sobriety tests, including things like hopping up and down on one foot, walking heel-to-toe in a straight line, or following a pen with only your eyes. When the police ask you to do something, it can be hard to say no. However, you are allowed to refuse these tests. In fact, performing these tests might only provide the police with probable cause to arrest you. Similarly, you may refuse to submit to a roadside breath test. Chemical testing, including breath testing, is not mandatory until after you are arrested.

    If you are arrested for a DWI, the police may take you into custody and let you “dry out” for a few hours in a holding cell. You should contact a lawyer as soon as possible, even if you must call from the police station. Tell our DUI and DWI defense lawyers about everything that happened to you during this time. If the police did something to violate your rights, we can use it to weaken the case against you.

    Fighting DUI and DWI Charges in Turnersville

    How we fight your DWI charges depends on the alleged facts of your case. As such, we need to review the charges against you and the evidence obtained by the police before deciding how to mount an effective legal defense. In many cases, defendants fight DWI charges based on the unlawful behavior of the police or flaws in the evidence against them.

    The police must follow certain procedures and protocols when arresting someone for a DWI. The police risk violating your rights if they deviate from these procedures. If this happens, evidence obtained through law enforcement’s illegal actions may be excluded from the case and cannot be used against you. For example, you are required to submit to chemical testing after arrest, but the police cannot force you. If they did use force, those BAC measurements should be thrown out because they were obtained in violation of your rights.

    We should also challenge untrustworthy evidence. Take your BAC measurements, for example. These measurements are often the key piece of evidence prosecutors need to prove someone was intoxicated when they were pulled over. If the equipment used to conduct chemical testing was faulty or had not been properly calibrated before use, your BAC results should not be trusted. Even if we cannot have the evidence excluded, we can plant seeds of reasonable doubt.

    Potential Consequences of a DWI or DUI in Turnersville

    DWI penalties can be complicated to determine, as numerous factors about the incident and your driving record may be factored into the final penalties. Generally, under N.J.S.A. § 39:4-50(a), factors including the level of alcohol in the driver’s system and whether they have previous convictions for DWIs will determine the grading of the current DWI offense.

    Your First DWI

    A person’s first DWI charge tends to come with comparatively more lenient penalties than a subsequent charge. If your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was no less than .08% when you were arrested but not more than .10%, you might face fines of at least $250 but less than $400. Additionally, the court, at its discretion, may sentence you to jail for 30 days. You will also lose your license until you agree to place an ignition interlock device inside your vehicle that stops the ignition from working if alcohol is detected on your breath.

    If your BAC is no less than .10% but under .15%, you may be fined no less than $300 and up to $500, and the court may sentence you to 30 days in jail. Again, you must install an ignition interlock device in your vehicle or lose your driver’s license. If your BAC was .15% or higher, your driver’s license may be suspended for at least 4 months but not more than 6 months after installing an ignition interlock device inside your car.

    If your DWI stems from controlled substances rather than alcohol, the penalties may be a bit different. In such a situation, your license may be suspended for at least 7 months but not more than 1 year.

    Your Second DWI

    If you are facing your second DWI charge after having been previously convicted of at least 1 other DWI, the penalties may be steeper. You may be fined at least $500 but still less than $1,000. The court can order you to perform community service for 30 days. The court may also sentence you to no less than 48 consecutive hours in jail and up to 90 days. Your driving privileges may be suspended for at least 1 year but not over 2 years.

    Your Third DWI or More

    If you have already been convicted of at least 2 DWIs before and are facing a third, the potential penalties are even harsher, and you should call an attorney for help. You may face a huge fine of at least $1,000 and be sentenced to at least 180 days in jail. You may also have your driver’s license suspended for 8 years.

    Talk to Our Turnersville DUI and DWI Defense Attorneys About Your Case Now

    Call the Lombardo Law Group, LLC at (609) 418-4537 and get a free, private case evaluation from our DUI and DWI defense lawyers.

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    Haddonfield (Main Office)
    25 Chestnut Street, Ste 2
    Haddonfield New Jersey 08033
    (856) 281-9600
    (877) 340-0609
    Hammonton Office
    Hammonton, New Jersey
    (609) 561-8100
    (877) 340-0609
    Atlantic City Office
    1014 Atlantic Avenue
    Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401
    (609) 318-6196
    (877) 340-0609
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