A 20-year-old Wantage woman who was stopped for speeding is facing charges that may have a lasting impact on her life. Emmi N. McAuliffe-Uchida was pulled over the night of April 28 after police witnessed her speeding on Route 15. The responding officer believed she might be intoxicated, and performed a series of field sobriety tests, which she failed. She was arrested and charged with DWI, speeding, and careless driving, and released later to a sober adult.
What most people don’t realize is that the rules for drivers who are under 21 are different. Instead of a .08% BAC threshold, minors who are suspected of DWI in New Jersey can be charged if their BAC is .01% or higher. This creates a high risk of charges for young people who have even a single drink, or less.
And the results can be devastating. Not only will you lose your license if convicted, but many auto insurance companies won’t write policies for underage drivers who’ve had a DWI, even years later. The costs associated with a conviction before your 21st birthday can be high and long lasting.
If you have a young driver in your life who’s been charged with DWI, take every step you can to keep their record clean. Matthew Reisig has helped more than 1,040 New Jersey drivers avoid conviction on DWI charges. Call 732-625-9660 today and talk to an experienced New Jersey DWI defense lawyer for free.
