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A report out from the personal finance website WalletHub claims that New Jersey’s DWI laws and enforcement are among the most lenient in the nation.

This will come as a surprise to the thousands of New Jersey drivers who’ve been caught up in the cycle of a DWI conviction, a license suspension, being caught driving on a suspended license, and ending up off the roads – or, more likely, driving illegally – and facing a seemingly endless period of suspension and fines.

WalletHub ranked states according to a variety of metrics and found that New Jersey, where DWI is a traffic offense rather than a criminal offense, came in 45th among the states in terms of criminal penalties, but 13th in terms of minimum jail time for a first offense and 6th in the nation for how long past DWI convictions will factor in subsequent charges.

That alone should tell us there’s something screwy with their analysis. We also rank 11th in average insurance rate hikes after a DWI conviction, and 14th for minimum fines for a first offender.

The truth of the matter is that New Jersey has some of the most unforgiving DWI laws in the nation.

Because our state doesn’t allow for conditional or hardship licenses once you’re convicted, many drivers are forced to take to the road without a license to get to work, school, and take care of their families.

This puts them at risk of additional penalties if they’re caught driving on a suspended license, including additional periods of suspension and ever-increasing fines.

It’s a trap that’s caught far too many drivers in our state.

If you’re facing charges for DWI and related offenses, don’t kid yourself that this isn’t a serious matter.

An experienced New Jersey DWI defense attorney is your best shot at protecting yourself down the line.

Don’t be caught in New Jersey’s DWI traps.

Call Matthew Reisig today at 732-625-9660 for a free consultation with an experienced New Jersey DWI defense lawyer.

Harrison High School may be hiring another football coach after their most recent appointment, Thomas Ferriero, 50, was arrested. According to police, Ferriero was behind the wheel of a town-owned van that he was not authorized to drive, when he struck a pair of parked cars.

He proceeded to make a U-turn across Hamilton Street and then veered left onto Kingsland Avenue, where he struck a third parked car, in front of the high school where he was scheduled to begin working August 15. Then he crossed over the roadway and hit a fourth, and final, parked car.

Police arriving on the scene found Ferriero slurring and unsteady. He told them he’d had three beers, although his blood alcohol level later tested at .11%, well over the state’s .08% threshold. He faces multiple charges, including DWI, DWI in a school zone, reckless driving, driving on a suspended license, failure to show a license, and leaving the scene of an accident, with additional charges expected.

Needless to say, his legal situation appears dire, but that’s not the worst of it for Ferriero. He’s been suspended without pay after the DWI charges while the Harrison Board of Education considers its options, which may include termination.

Teachers, coaches, and others in the public sector are held to a different standard, rightly or wrongly. Employers like a public school have to consider the reputation of their personnel as they weigh who will best function as role models for the children they educate, and a very public DWI on school property is a quick way to find yourself not only facing significant legal penalties, but also searching for a new career after driving drunk in NJ.

There are defenses in every DWI case, and working with a solid lawyer can go a long way towards getting the best outcome, even in a difficult case. Matthew Reisig has helped more than 1,040 New Jersey drivers avoid conviction on DWI and related charges. Call 732-625-9660 today for a free consultation with an experienced New Jersey DWI defense lawyer.

A 20-year-old Sparta, New Jersey, driver has been charged with several violations, including DWI, after a two-car crash on Tall Oaks Road in Sparta. Shawn P. Monroe was driving overnight on July 30 when his vehicle struck another car. Officers responded and determined that Monroe showed signs of drug or alcohol intoxication. Field sobriety tests were performed, which Monroe allegedly failed, and he was taken into custody by police.

While in transit to the police station, Monroe reportedly became unresponsive, and was instead taken to Newton Medical Center, where he received treatment. He’s been charged with DWI, careless driving, and unclear license plates. As a driver charged with drunk driving under the age of 21, the long-term impact of a DWI can be especially painful, since insurers are not required to cover a driver with a history of drunk driving, and they can be especially punitive to young drivers. Luckily, in this case, the driver of the other vehicle wasn’t injured, and Monroe will have his day in court in the future.

If you or a loved one have been charged in an underage DWI case in New Jersey, you deserve the best representation available. Call Matthew Reisig today at 732-625-9660 for a free consultation with an experienced New Jersey DWI defense lawyer.