Defending Your DWI Charges in Hackensack NJ
If you are in need of a Hackensack, New Jersey DWI Defense Lawyer, you have come to the right place.
Being charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or refusal to submit to a breath test can turn your life upside down. Don’t risk license suspension, hefty fines, and potential jail exposure. Get help fighting the case.
Arrests and charges for DWI in Hackensack literally occur every day. It is a huge city in Bergen County that serves as the county seat. There are over 40,000 people who call Hackensack home and thousands more who come to Hackensack on a regular basis to work, shop, eat, and visit. Hackensack is also where the Bergen County Superior Court is located and it houses Hackensack University Medical Center. Unfortunately, with so many people and so much to do in the area, police are constantly on patrol looking for people driving under the influence. If you have been arrested for DUI in Hackensack, New Jersey, you’re probably worried about the penalties you are facing and wondering if you can beat the charges against you. In many cases, the answer is yes.
The Tormey Law Firm is a group of highly skilled Hackensack DWI defense attorneys with local offices at 254 State Street in Hackensack, directly across the street from the Hackensack Municipal Court. Our proximity to the court, regular appearances there, and extensive experience, has allowed us to develop a reputation for aggressive defense and superior results. When you need a DWI attorney with the credentials and practical experience to successfully challenge every element of the state’s case against you, it is important to find someone you can place your trust and confidence in. At The Tormey Law Firm, our lawyers are uniquely positioned to defend you against allegations of driving while intoxicated or under the influence. In fact, we frequently invalidate key evidence against our clients by Challenging The Initial Stop that led to a DWI investigation, Challenging the Field Sobriety Tests that preceded an arrest, or Challenging the 20 Minute Observation Period, a required element of police procedure when charging someone with drunk driving. Please feel free to learn more about the specific DWI charges you are facing and check our some of our DWI defense strategies to find out some of the effective ways that we can help you prepare for your upcoming trial.
If you have been arrested in the city of Hackensack and charged with DWI, get your specific questions answered by speaking with a knowledgeable attorney now. We encourage you to call (201) 556-1570 today for a free consultation. You never know how many ways you can defend your case until you consult with a qualified legal professional with a track record of success defending Hackensack DUI charges.
Arrested for DWI in Hackensack
DWI (driving while intoxicated) and DUI (driving under the influence) are used interchangeably in New Jersey. Basically, driving while on drugs or after drinking alcohol are offenses with serious consequences, explained thoroughly in section N.J.S.A. 39:4-50. Depending on your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and your prior history of DWI, you could lose your license for a period ranging from three months to eight years, have a mandatory interlock installed in your car, pay fines, serve jail time, pay costly surcharges, and perform community service. The threshold BAC for a first offense is from 0.08% up to 0.10% for the first tier, or 0.10% to 0.15% for the second tier. For second, third, and subsequent offenses, the blood alcohol concentration is irrelevant, as these offenses carry the same punishments across the board.
If convicted, a first-time DWI first tier offender is required to install an Ignition Interlock, which prevents anyone with a BAC of 0.05% or over from driving their car. If the device is required, the Department of Motor Vehicles Commission will not restore your driving privileges without noting the device requirement on your license. Though a BAC of 0.08% is considered drunk driving by law, any alcohol may impair driving and result in a DWI charge. The same goes for driving with drugs in your system. A first-time offense for driving under the influence of drugs, commonly involving marijuana DUI, driving under the influence of heroin, or operation of a vehicle while on Oxycontin, carries a longer license suspension but not with an Ignition Interlock requirement. In addition, a conviction for a first-tier DWI is punishable by a $250 to $500 fine, 30 days in jail, and a driver’s license suspension pending the installation of the Ignition Interlock, three months with the Ignition Interlock, two days at an Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC) and a $1,000 annual insurance surcharge for three years.
For a second tier first-time offense (0.10% to 0.15% BAC), the defendant pays up to $500 in fines and maintains the Ignition Interlock for seven months to a year, in addition to the other penalties for a first-tier offense. Blowing over 0.15 % BAC extends the license suspension to six months and then the Ignition Interlock is installed for an additional nine to fifteen months longer after driver’s license reinstatement. Second offenses subject those convicted to a potential $1,000 fine, a 48-hour to 90-day incarceration term, up to two years’ license suspension, mandatory IDRC program, 30 days of community service, a three-year $1,000 insurance surcharge and a two-year Ignition Interlock requirement, plus two to four years beyond that. A third or subsequent offense includes many of the same penalties, with the added six months’ imprisonment (with credit for days spent in an IDRC-approved drug or alcohol inpatient program), an eight-year license suspension, and a three-year $1,500.00 insurance surcharge.
Since it is a traffic violation and not a crime, a DWI in Hackensack stays on your driving record pursuant to New Jersey Title 39, the Motor Vehicle Statutes. You may, however, challenge the DWI before a conviction ever occurs, provided you have help from a seasoned DWI attorney.
Hackensack Municipal Court Information for Your DWI Case
There are some directions below to the Hackensack court and municipal building for your reference when you have an upcoming court appearance.
Hackensack Municipal Court Info:
- Louis Denice is the Judge.
- Richard Salkin is the Prosecutor.
- Elizabeth Tezzillo is the Court Administrator.
Directions to Hackensack Municipal Court:
From Rt. 4 East:
Take the Hackensack Avenue exit going South (1st exit). Go straight on Hackensack Avenue (street name will change to River Street). Pass Sears, then McDonald’s. At the second light past McDonald’s make a right onto East Salem Street and go two blocks. Make a left on State Street.
From Rt. 4 West:
Take the Hackensack Avenue exit going south (2nd exit under the overpass). Go straight on Hackensack Avenue (street name will change to River Street). Pass Sears, then McDonald’s. At the second light past McDonald’s make a right onto East Salem Street and go two blocks. Make a left on State Street.
From Rt. 80 East:
Use Local lanes. Exit at Hudson Street. Go to the end of the exit ramp, turn left, and proceed to traffic light. Turn left onto Hudson Street north, and continue to the Bergen County Administration buildings.
From Rt. 80 West:
Use Local lanes. Exit at Hudson Street. At the end of the ramp, yield to traffic and get into the left lane. Go to the traffic light and make a left turn onto Hudson Street north, and continue to the Bergen County Administration buildings.
Other Helpful Links and Information about Hackensack, New Jersey
- City of Hackensack Website:http://www.hackensack.org/
- The Hackensack Police Department is located at 225 State Street and can be contacted at 201-646-7777. For more information on the Hackensack Police Department, please visit their website.
Contact a Hackensack DWI Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one has been charged with drunk driving, driving under the influence of drugs, or breath test refusal in Hackensack or elsewhere in Bergen County, contact The Tormey Law Firm today for a free consultation with an experienced Hackensack NJ DWI defense lawyer who can help. We will listen to the specific circumstances surrounding your arrest and discuss some potential ways we may be able to beat your charges. We can be reached anytime at (201)-556-1570 or request a free consultation online to begin your conversation.