Monroe DUI Attorney
Monroe NJ DWI Lawyers
Were you arrested on suspicion of drunk driving in Monroe, New Jersey? If so, you may be understandably worried about what happens next and about what consequences you could face if you are ultimately convicted on the DWI charges. The best move you can make right now is to educate yourself about the legal process. The next move you should make is to speak with an experienced DWI defense lawyer and explore your options for beating the charges. Monroe Township police officers engage in a significant amount of DWI and DUI stops and arrests throughout the year. If you are charged with Drug DUI or Refusal then you face stiff penalties and tough consequences. These may include suspension of your driver’s license, community service, installation of an interlock device in your vehicle, thousands of dollars in fees, and even jail time. Monroe DWI offenses are often the result of a failed Field Sobriety Test. Submitting to and consequently failing a breath test does not necessarily lead to a DWI conviction. Capable DWI defense lawyers often pinpoint technical flaws of made by police in conducting the traffic stop and subsequent arrest. It is common that the slightest technicality may diminish or even dismiss a DWI. Alcotest readings and Field Sobriety Tests can be overturned for similar reasons. To learn more about how William Proetta Criminal Law can assist your cause, feel free to contact us at (732) 659-9600 for a free initial consultation.
DWI Charges in Monroe Township NJ
The historical suburban township of Monroe is home to Route 33 and the New Jersey Turnpike As a result, the number of Monroe DWI, DUI, and Refusal charges are significant every year. If you are facing a Monroe driving while intoxicated charge, then you must be prepared to appear before the Monroe Municipal Court. DWI cases are often complex. They can take weeks, months, and sometimes up to and over a year. Experienced attorneys are able to sort through the evidence and build a defense to provide you with the best chance of dismissing your charges.
The legal process for an individual charged with Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) in New Jersey can be extremely complicated, with each part of the process having its own rules, procedures, and deadlines. These are the main stages of a DWI case:
- Arrest
- Charges Filed
- First Appearance
- Pretrial Process
- Trial
- Sentencing
- Appeal
Note that trial, sentencing, and appeal are not always inevitable depending on the circumstances of your case.
What Happens when You get Arrested for DWI in Monroe
The first thing you probably came to know about your DWI charge is that you will be arrested. If you are charged with drunk driving in New Jersey, police will have your car towed, and they will place you under arrest. However, police must follow a particular process when placing someone under arrest for drunk driving. First, police must have a valid reason for pulling over your motor vehicle: they must have probable cause to believe that you are driving while intoxicated, or they must observe you committing some other traffic violation. After police stop your vehicle, they may request that you take field sobriety tests. Depending on the outcome of the tests and/or the observations of the police officer, you could be placed under arrest and charged with a DUI. You will then be taken to the police station, where police will administer a breath test using an Alcotest breathalyzer machine. The results of this test may later be used against you in court. Note: you should not refuse to take the breath test because declining to take the test will result in refusal charges being filed against you.
In conjunction with your arrest, you will be issued a ticket for DWI. That’s because driving under the influence is technically considered a traffic offense, not a criminal offense. However, don’t let that fool you into thinking that a DWI is not a serious matter, as a conviction – especially for a second or third DWI offense – can result in you being ordered to serve time in jail among other serious repercussions. Moreover, a conviction may result in your driver’s license being suspended. First, however, the prosecutor will need to get a conviction at trial. The trial will be held in the municipal court located in the city or town where you were arrested. In Monroe, this is Monroe Township Municipal Court.
Appearing in Court for a Monroe DUI Charge
Your first interaction with the court will be at your first appearance, which will be scheduled to occur at a later date that is listed on your summons. This means that if you wish to be represented by an attorney at your first appearance, you need to hire one. Also, many times your attorney can request to have your first appearance waived so that you don’t have to miss work or other life obligations for a relatively simple step in the case. At the first appearance, you must tell the judge whether you intend to plead guilty or contest the charges. If you plead guilty to the DWI charge, you will be convicted and sentenced. If you plead not guilty, the case will be adjourned to a later date for pretrial proceedings and eventually, trial.
Although you are not required to have a lawyer representing you at trial, it is generally a good idea to have qualified legal representation when facing a criminal or DWI charge. A knowledgeable DWI lawyer will be able to take care of pretrial discovery: requesting official information and evidence in the case, including the arresting officer’s report, video and/or audio footage from the vehicle stop and arrest, Alcotest breathalyzer test results, the arresting officer’s identity and information, eyewitness statements, and more. The more evidence your attorney can obtain and examine – either through discovery or through an independent investigation – the more ammunition you may have to dispute the charges. Also, knowing exactly what evidence the prosecution plans to present at trial in your DWI case should help a great deal when it comes to preparing your defense. If additional time is needed to obtain evidence, your attorney can request a postponement. And once all of the evidence has been provided, an informed and experienced DUI defense attorney can determine the pretrial motions, defense strategies, and best methods to potentially get the charges dismissed.
Contact Monroe NJ DUI Defense Attorneys for a Free Consultation
At William Proetta Criminal Law, our attorneys take great pride in their unique qualifications regarding the technical protocol and instruments used by New Jersey State and Monroe police officers. Our founding attorney Will Proetta is certified in Standardized Field Sobriety Testing. Additionally, he has been certified by Draeger Industries in the correct operation and maintenance of the Alcotest 7110 – New Jersey’s version of the Breathalyzer. Our attorneys utilize these technical skills to completely assess the prosecution’s case against our clients. Often, a successfully dismissed case will come down to the slightest technicality involving police protocol. To discuss the possibility of our representation of you or your loved one, please call (732) 659-9600 or visit our local Middlesex County office at 3840 Park Avenue in Edison, NJ for a free initial consultation and case strategy session with a skilled Monroe NJ DWI defense attorney.