Ocean County DUI Attorney
If Ocean County prosecutors charge you with a DUI or DWI, the term New Jersey law uses, you could face harsh penalties, including jail time, fines, driver’s license suspension, and more. New Jersey’s driving under the influence laws are severe, and a conviction can have a lasting impact on your life, making it harder to find and hold a job, among other unfavorable consequences.
Contact William Proetta Criminal Law or call 24/7 at (201) 740-5804 for a free consultation with an experienced Ocean County DUI lawyer. During your initial consultation, one of our experienced attorneys will review the DWI/DUI charges you’re facing, explain the potential penalties, and walk you through some of the possible defenses. Our nearest office is conveniently located at 1415 Hooper Ave. Suite 204 Unit B. Toms River, NJ. We can help!
Top Reasons Why You Need Our Ocean County DUI Defense Attorneys
When you work with William Proetta Criminal Law, you’re working with a law firm that has a successful track record of handling thousands of criminal cases throughout New Jersey, including Ocean County. Our team has extensive experience defending clients against DUI charges, including, for example, a recent case in which we had our client’s DUI, refusal to submit, and reckless driving charges dismissed.
We’re also available to discuss your case whenever you need us, including evenings and weekends. We aim to provide clients with the comprehensive legal defense and personal attention they deserve.
To learn more about what it’s like to work with our experienced DWI lawyers in Ocean County, check out what one of our past clients had to say:
“William literally saved me from a disaster. If it weren’t for him, I would have lost my license and been stuck dealing with a whole mess of problems. He didn’t just help me—he protected me from serious consequences that could have completely changed my life. From the moment I reached out, he acted fast, handled everything professionally, and knew exactly what to do.” — Grazyna Gorecka
Types of DUI and DWI Cases We Handle in Ocean County
Our Ocean County DWI/DUI attorneys based in Toms River handle various types of cases, including first, subsequent, underage, and aggravated DUI offenses. Depending on the circumstances of your case, the penalties you could face may be more severe, including longer jail sentences, steeper fines, and additional penalties.
Some of the most common types of DUI and DWI cases in Ocean County are:
- First offense DUI – The penalties you could face for a first DUI offense depend on various factors, including your alleged blood alcohol concentration (BAC). While an officer can arrest you for DUI if you appear intoxicated, having a BAC of 0.08 percent or higher is evidence that can lead to a conviction on its own. A BAC of 0.10 percent or higher can result in harsher penalties.
- Subsequent DUI – Second, third, or higher subsequent offenses also result in harsher penalties, including mandatory minimum jail sentences. Prosecutors and judges are also typically less lenient when it comes to repeat offenders, making it essential that you have an experienced Ocean County DUI attorney on your side.
- Underage DUI – New Jersey has a zero-tolerance law for underage drivers. If a driver under 21 has a BAC of even 0.01 percent, they can face DUI charges. While the penalties for an underage DUI with a BAC of less than 0.08 percent are less severe, a conviction can still impact your future.
- Aggravated DUI – Some factors can aggravate the DUI charges and lead to more severe penalties, such as if your BAC was 0.15 percent or higher, the offense occurred in a school zone, or there was a minor in the vehicle.
Potential Defense Strategies in an Ocean County DUI or DWI Case
Our DWI defense lawyers can assist you with various defenses to defeat or reduce the criminal charges you’re facing. One of the most effective defenses is often to dispute the evidence collected by police officers during the stop. If the officers improperly conducted the field sobriety tests or if we suspect the breathalyzer wasn’t calibrated correctly, those are key targets for evidentiary disputes.
The stop itself may have been unlawful if the police didn’t have reasonable suspicion or probable cause or didn’t go through the proper channels to set up a DUI checkpoint. The Fourth Amendment protects individuals from unlawful searches and seizures, which may apply to such a case.
Potential Consequences of a DUI or DWI Charge
The consequences you could face for a DWI/DUI conviction in Ocean County largely depend on the factors of your case, including whether this is your first offense. Common penalties for DUI offenders include:
- Jail sentence – A first-time offender could face a jail sentence of up to 30 days, and a third-time or subsequent offender could face a jail sentence of at least 180 days.
- Fines – A first-time offender could face a fine of $250 to $500, and a third-time or subsequent offender could face a fine of $1,000.
- License suspension – A first-time offender could face a license suspension of three months to one year, and a third-time or subsequent offender could face a license suspension of 10 years.
- Ignition interlock device – A first-time offender may need to install an ignition interlock device on their vehicle for six months to one year after their license suspension ends, and a third-time or subsequent offender may need to install an ignition interlock device for one to three years.
- Community service – A second-time offender may be required to serve 30 or 60 days of community service, depending on whether the offense occurred in a school zone.
- Alcohol abuse program – The court may require that any offender participate in an alcohol abuse and DUI education program.
How Our Ocean County Drunk Driving Defense Attorneys Can Help You
If prosecutors in Ocean County are pursuing drunk driving charges against you, contact William Proetta Criminal Law for a free initial consultation with a DWI/DUI lawyer in Ocean County, NJ. One of our law offices is located in Toms River. During your initial consultation, we’ll review your case and explain how our firm can help you.
Some ways our experienced attorney may be able to help include investigating the incident that led to the DUI and DWI charges and gathering evidence of your innocence, disputing the evidence collected by the police, such as field sobriety and breathalyzer test results, and negotiating plea agreements with the prosecution.
Don’t try to handle your case on your own. Get help from an experienced criminal defense attorney now.