DWI Driver’s License Suspensions
Atlantic County Suspended License Defense Lawyer
The first thing most people are concerned about when they have been charged with DWI is driver’s license suspension. Losing your license can make it harder to get to work and take your kids to school. If you need to be able to drive for your job, it could even get you fired.
I am John W. Tumelty, an experienced Atlantic County DWI attorney serving clients throughout South Jersey, from Ocean County to Cape May, including the Atlantic City area. If you are worried about losing your license for a DWI charge, don’t hesitate to contact me for a free consultation. I have more than 30 years of experience in criminal and DWI law. I am a former New Jersey Deputy Attorney General with the Division of Criminal Justice and a former Assistant Prosecutor with the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office. I am a New Jersey Supreme Court-certified criminal trial attorney.
How Long Will Your License Be Suspended if You Are Convicted?
If convicted of DWI, you could lose your license for a significant amount of time. The following are the basic rules for license suspension under recent changes to state law:
First Offense License Loss
If you are convicted of a first DWI offense with a blood alcohol content of under 0.10%, your license will be suspended until you have an ignition interlock device installed in your vehicle. This device must be installed for three months.
If your BAC is between 0.10% and 0.15%, your license will be suspended until you have the interlock installed, and the device must remain installed in your primary vehicle for a period of seven months to one year.
With a BAC of 0.15% or above, first-time offenders can have their driving privileges suspended for three months and be required to have an interlock device installed during this suspension plus an additional 12 to 15 months.
License Suspension for Second DUI Violations
When charged with a second DUI offense at any BAC, the length of license suspension increases to one to two years. You may be required to have an ignition interlock device installed not only during this suspension but also for an additional two to four years after you get your license back.
Driving Privilege Forfeiture for Third and Subsequent DUIs
For a third or subsequent offense of driving under the influence, you could lose your license for eight years. Throughout this suspension and for an additional two to four years, you can be required to have an ignition interlock device installed in your vehicle.
It is possible to shave considerable time off of your license suspension amount by taking advantage of state laws regarding the early installation of an interlock device. Pre-installing an ignition interlock device in your primary vehicle before you are convicted of a DUI, as long as your license was otherwise in good standing at the time of the offense and through the date of the conviction, allows you to receive credit against the loss of your license. For every two days the interlock device was installed, you can receive one day of credit against your suspension. Early interlock installation can also help you get fines waived, so this option is an important possibility to discuss with your DUI license suspension attorney.
No Hardship Licenses
Unlike many other states, New Jersey does not allow a special hardship permit or license if you are convicted of DWI. This means that if you are convicted of DWI, you can’t get an exception to the license suspension so you can drive to work or school.
Can New Jersey Take Away Your License From Another State?
If you are a resident of another state, you could still lose your license after a New Jersey DWI conviction. New Jersey has reciprocity agreements with most other states. Some of these states will impose New Jersey’s license suspension penalties, and others will impose their own.
Whether you are a New Jersey resident or a resident of another state, you need an attorney who is familiar with the local courts and local prosecutors. Contact me today at 609-390-4600 for a free initial consultation to discuss what I can do to help you fight driver’s license suspension in South Jersey. Telephones answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
