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In a June incident in Trenton, a driver’s two-year-old child was in the car when he drove into two parked police vehicles on Route 29, near the Calhoun Street exit. Police were on the scene investigating an earlier traffic accident when O’Connor McCalla, 37, struck their vehicles.

No officers were injured in the crash, but upon investigation the police quickly learned that McCalla had an open container of alcohol in his vehicle, displayed signs of intoxication, and that his toddler was in the car with him and had sustained a facial injury.

The charges McCalla will face extend far beyond a simple DWI. He’s also facing charges of assault by auto, reckless driving, endangering the welfare of a child, and violations for unlicensed driver, suspended registration, and failure to exhibit documents.

Assault by auto and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, in particular, are serious, felony-level crimes that will likely prompt a punitive response from the judge in the case. Whether this means time in jail or a lesser sanction will have everything to do with the quality of the defendant’s legal counsel.

New Jersey DWI charges often spiral out to include a wide swath of violations, some serious and some less so. However you look at it, moving forward after a criminal conviction is difficult and costly, and your best bet is to fight as hard as you can to avoid the conviction in the first place.

Matthew Reisig has helped more than 1,040 New Jersey drivers avoid conviction on DWI and related charges in New Jersey. Call 732-625-9660 today and talk to an experienced New Jersey DWI defense lawyer for free.

A Williamstown, New Jersey, driver is facing drunk driving charges in New York after a traffic stop in Tappan, NY. According to media reports of the incident, Justin Abraham, 27, was arrested on a Saturday afternoon after being stopped by police on Route 303.

Police noticed the man had watery, bloodshot eyes and that he smelled of alcohol. Field sobriety tests were ordered, which he failed, and when police attempted to obtain a breath sample for testing, he “failed to provide a sufficient measurable sample after numerous attempts.”

In New Jersey, failure to provide an adequate breath sample during sobriety tests can result in both a DWI charge and a charge for Refusal. Refusal is charged under the implied consent laws governing the issuance of driver’s licenses. Essentially, to obtain a license to operate a motor vehicle in New Jersey, the recipient is consenting to cooperate with investigations into suspected drunk driving.

When police ask for a breath sample as part of that investigation, they will not attempt to force you to comply, but if you don’t cooperate in good faith, you can be charged with Refusal on top of the DWI charge in New Jersey. Both carry significant penalties, including loss of license and steep fines.

Because the incident happened in New York, it appears that this New Jersey driver avoided a Refusal charge, but because of the interstate compact that New Jersey and New York are both parties to, a conviction in New York will result in DWI consequences here.

Getting experienced legal help is the best way to avoid the worst consequences of a DWI or Refusal charge in New Jersey. Matthew Reisig has helped more than 1,040 drivers avoid conviction on DWI and related charges. Call 732-625-9660 today to talk to a DWI defense lawyer for free.

Gloucester Township Police have stepped up their efforts to secure local roads this summer, and netted three separate DWI arrests in a single July weekend as a result. A fourth driver was stopped for DWI but ultimately charged with possession of marijuana.

The Department has issued a statement reminding motorists, whether residents or visitors, to act responsibly while engaging in summer fun.

It’s extremely common for police to step up their presence during the summer, with particular emphasis placed on holiday weekends. It sounds like Gloucester Township is aiming high when it comes to DWI enforcement with checkpoints even on normal weekends, so take note if you’re crossing through the area.

If you do find yourself on the receiving end of a DWI charge in NJ, don’t wait to get experienced help right away. Call Matthew Reisig at 732-625-9660 for a free consultation with an experienced New Jersey DWI defense lawyer.

A Barnegat, New Jersey, woman is facing several charges after backing her car into a mailbox in Lacey, which left her car stuck on a retaining wall and unable to move forward. Lacey police received a report on July 8 that a motor vehicle accident had occurred in the early evening. Officer Michael Hein arrived on the scene to find Marie D. Alfieri, 60, had driven over a mailbox in the 1000 block of Bowsprit Point and that her car had become trapped on an adjacent retaining wall.

Hein’s investigation revealed evidence of intoxication, and he charged Alfieri with DWI, reckless driving, and failure to maintain lane. As directed by John’s Law, her car was also impounded for twelve hours, which at least meant that it would be freed from the retaining wall.

It’s easy to chuckle a little at other people’s misadventures, but a DWI charge in New Jersey can happen to you. When it does, get the most experienced help around. Call Matthew Reisig today at 732-625-9660 and talk to an experienced New Jersey DWI defense lawyer for free.