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Experienced Criminal Defense Lawyer Fights For Clients Facing DUI/DWI Charges In Moorestown, New Jersey

Law enforcement officers in Camden County and across New Jersey take drunk driving very seriously. When a cop suspects you are operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you may be pulled over and tested for driving under the influence (DUI). If arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI), you will be facing serious consequences if convicted. Heavy fines and license suspension are only two of your problems. Jail time is a real possibility for repeat offenders.

If you are facing DWI/DUI charges, don’t go it alone. Contact a serious traffic ticket lawyer who will aggressively fight your drunk driving charges. Call or email me, attorney Stephen R. Piper, a seasoned criminal defense attorney in South Jersey who understands what’s at stake when you are facing DUI charges. I know how a driver’s license suspension can wreak havoc with your life, preventing you from getting to and from work and/or school and attending to other responsibilities. I will negotiate with prosecutors on your behalf and do everything possible to get your charges downgraded or dismissed.

Facing Drunk Driving Charges In New Jersey? An Aggressive Lawyer Can Protect Your Rights.

DUI charges are serious, life-changing events under the law of the state of New Jersey. Even though the consequences of a DWI conviction include the possibility of jail time, your case will be heard in the municipal court of the town in which your ticket was issued. To successfully defend matters in the municipal court, your lawyer needs to have knowledge of both the law and experience in municipal court.

Since my days handling municipal court appeals for the Camden County prosecutor’s office, I have worked closely with the prosecutors and court staff in Moorestown, Mount Laurel, Haddonfield and municipal courts throughout New Jersey. I have been extremely successful in negotiating drunk driving charges with local prosecutors. However, if a trial is required, rest assured that I will be ready to defend your rights in court.

I will conduct a thorough investigation into your case, looking into everything from the administration of field sobriety tests to any medication you take, in order to build the best possible DUI defense. Additionally, I will review every aspect of the traffic stop and all actions taken after you were charged. Police officers are people, too, and they make mistakes. Was the traffic stop truly warranted in the first place? Were you read your rights? Was the officer who administered the breath test qualified to do so? Further, machines malfunction. Was the Alcotest equipment operating properly at the time of your test?

I know how a DUI conviction will impact your life, which is why I will stop at nothing in an effort to protect your driving privileges and your freedom. Contact The Law Offices of Stephen R. Piper, LLC, if you or someone you love is facing any of the following charges:

DWI/DUI: Whether this is your first, second or subsequent DUI offense, it’s important to take it very seriously. If you are found guilty of driving with a blood alcohol content of .08% or above, your driver’s license and freedom are at stake.
DUI/drugs: In New Jersey, the law views driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol in the same way. If you are facing these charges, you need a savvy defense lawyer.
Refusing to take a breath test: New Jersey is an “implied consent” state when it comes to breath test requirements. When you accepted your New Jersey driver’s license, you gave consent to submit to a breath test when a police officer suspects you are driving under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicating substances. Failure to take the breath test when asked to do so will result in additional serious penalties.
DUI/DWI with a commercial driver’s license (CDL): If you have a CDL and are convicted of drunk driving, the penalties are harsh. If your ability to earn a living depends on you having a valid CDL, longtime loss of license could have a serious impact on your employment status.
Out-of-state DWI: Make no mistake about it: New Jersey communicates with other states. If you live in another state and are convicted of drunk driving in New Jersey, your home state will be informed. If you are a New Jersey resident but are found guilty of DWI in another state, you will still get points on your New Jersey driving record.
Underage and new driver DWI: The laws are different when it comes to an underage drinker who chooses to get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. Be aware that there is a zero-tolerance policy for underage drinkers. With even a BAC of .01% or higher, an underage driver can be charged with DUI in the state of New Jersey.
Drunk driving accidents and vehicular homicide: If you have an accident while you are DWI/DUI, you can face serious jail time and loss of your freedom. These cases are usually handled in the superior court by full-time prosecutors who will be seeking your incarceration. I have handled numerous DWI/DUI cases and homicide cases. If you are facing the unique charges of death by auto, vehicular homicide or aggravated assault by automobile, contact me right away for criminal defense.

Every DWI case deserves a careful defense, and taking swift action with experienced legal counsel can make all the difference in protecting your future.

Helping You Build A Strong Defense For Refusal To Submit To A Breath Test Charges In New Jersey

While refusing to submit to a breath test can be difficult to defend or justify in some cases, I will pursue every potential defense to its fullest and build a strong defense in your case.

First, the arresting officer must have probable cause to suspect that the driver has been operating the vehicle while intoxicated in order to request a breath test.

To satisfy this requirement, the officer will commonly conduct one or more sobriety tests, such as a “walk-and-turn” test or “one-leg-stand” test, to evaluate the motorist’s state of sobriety. These tests, in addition to the officer’s observations at the time, can be used to establish probable cause for a DWI arrest in New Jersey. I will investigate the officer’s actions as well as the scene, weather and ground conditions at the time of arrest to determine whether the officer had probable cause for the traffic stop in the first place.

In New Jersey, the police officer is also required to read an implied consent warning to the driver before administering a breath test. This is a standard statement that informs the driver of New Jersey’s implied consent regime as well as their rights to have independent chemical breath, urine or blood samples obtained after submitting to the officer’s breath test. If the officer fails to read this statement or cannot understand the statement because of language barriers or medical issues, a valid defense to a breath test refusal charge may exist.

Severe Penalties For Refusal To Submit To A Breath Test In New Jersey

Refusing to submit to a breath test can lead to severe penalties in New Jersey, regardless of whether the driver has been drinking. That is because the refusal itself is considered a violation of the law. Under N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.4(a), the potential penalties for refusal to submit to a chemical breath test are as follows:

First offense: A fine ranging from $300 to $500 and driver’s license suspension for seven months to one year
Second offense: A fine between $500 and $1,000 and two-year license suspension
Third or subsequent offense: A fine of $1,000 and ten-year license suspension

Beyond these penalties, drivers are also responsible for paying certain state-imposed assessments to the New Jersey Drunk Driving Enforcement Fund and must complete educational or counseling sessions through the Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC).

Refusing a breath test can create long-term complications similar to, or even more severe than, a DWI conviction. Anyone accused of refusal should speak with an experienced New Jersey criminal defense attorney as soon as possible to understand their rights and potential defenses.

Penalties For Repeated DWI/DUI Charges In New Jersey

Repeat drunk driving convictions in New Jersey lead to increasingly harsh consequences. State law mandates stricter penalties with each subsequent offense, including longer suspensions, higher fines, and possible jail sentences. These punishments are designed to hold repeat offenders accountable and reduce the risk of impaired driving incidents.

New Jersey law states that the penalties for repeated DWI or DUI convictions are as follows:

Second offense: A fine between $500 and $1,000, license suspension for one to two years, up to 90 days in jail, mandatory participation in the IDRC and ignition interlock device installation during and after the suspension period
Third or subsequent offense: A fine of $1,000, license suspension for eight years, mandatory 180-day jail term, with limited credit for time spent in an approved inpatient treatment program, continued IDRC participation and extended ignition interlock requirement after license reinstatement

In addition to these penalties, repeat offenders may face higher insurance costs, extended probation and other court-imposed fees. A DWI record can also affect employment opportunities and professional licensing. Because each case is unique, it is important to speak with a New Jersey criminal defense attorney like me who understands the state’s DWI laws and can help you explore potential defenses or alternative resolutions.

New Jersey Juvenile Crime Attorney Advocates For Minors’ Rights In Underage Drinking Cases In Burlington And Camden Counties

New Jersey is a zero-tolerance state when it comes to underage drinking, especially if an individual under age 21 tests positive for alcohol use while operating a motor vehicle. Even in the juvenile crime context, underage drinking or driving while intoxicated (DWI) charges carry criminal consequences as well as loss of driving privileges and problems obtaining insurance coverage in the future. In some cases, a minor charged with underage drinking in New Jersey can even be charged as an adult or face additional charges that can serve as aggravating factors and lead to harsher punishment.

I am criminal defense attorney Stephen R. Piper, and I understand that a conviction for underage drinking or underage DWI can have a substantial impact on a minor’s future. If you or your child have been charged with underage drinking, you need an aggressive New Jersey criminal defense attorney on your side. I will fight to mitigate the impact of the charge both currently and with respect to the minor’s future. It is critical to remember that an underage drinking or DWI conviction can impact a child’s future and professional prospects long after the pain of the initial arrest and punishment have passed, making a skilled New Jersey criminal defense attorney a necessity in every case.

New Jersey Imposes Strict Penalties For Underage Drinking/DWI Offenses In Camden County

Underage drinking charges in New Jersey can arise in a variety of contexts, the most serious of which is while the minor is driving a motor vehicle. Under New Jersey law, underage drinking is illegal except:

If the minor’s legal guardian consents and the drinking is on private property where alcohol is not sold
For religious purposes
For medical purposes when a physician has so ordered
For educational purposes, such as in the context of a cooking school

In all other cases, it is illegal for a minor under the age of 21 to drink alcohol. Under New Jersey’s zero-tolerance rule, a minor is guilty of DWI once their blood alcohol level is at least .01%. The state has the burden of proving three elements of an underage DWI charge:

The accused individual was operating a motor vehicle at the time of the arrest.
The accused individual was under age 21, which is easily established via examining the minor’s driver’s license.
The minor’s blood alcohol content (BAC) was at least .01%, which is typically established when the arresting officer administers a breath test.

Punishment can be severe, even for a first offense, when a minor can face imprisonment for between two and 90 days, a fine of between $500 and $1,000, a suspended license, community service and required participation in alcohol and traffic safety education programs. If the minor’s BAC is above .08%, the minor may be charged as an adult.

If other minors were present in the car and had been drinking, the minor who was driving the car can be charged with distributing alcohol to minors or child endangerment. If alcohol was present in the vehicle, the arresting officer may also bring a minor in possession charge.

In addition to potential criminal penalties that a juvenile can face for an underage DWI charge in New Jersey, many insurance companies will simply cancel the minor’s insurance after a DWI conviction or will substantially raise the premiums for an extended period of time (often for up to five years).

Providing Strong Defense Against Underage Drinking/DWI Charges In Cherry Hill, NJ

I am experienced in defending DWI charges for both adults and minors, and I will thoroughly investigate the circumstances of the charge to formulate a strong and strategic defense. In certain cases, I may be able to argue that, because of the extremely low BAC reading required for conviction, some other type of substance caused the minor’s BAC to exceed .01%. Mitigating the potential future damage that can be caused by a DWI conviction will be my primary focus in building a strong defense in any case, especially those involving a minor.

DWI With A Commercial Driver’s License

If you hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and are charged with DUI/DWI for CDL, your ability to work may be in serious jeopardy. Even a first offense can lead to CDL suspension, job loss and long-term financial hardship. At The Law Offices of Stephen R. Piper, LLC, I represent commercial drivers across South Jersey who face DUI charges that could threaten their livelihood. Whether the charge happened in your work vehicle or your personal car I will fight to protect your license and your future.

How Will A DUI Impact My Commercial Driver’s License?

Commercial drivers are held to stricter standards than regular motorists. In New Jersey you can be charged with DUI/DWI for CDL with a blood alcohol level of 0.04% or higher while operating a commercial vehicle. That’s half the legal limit for non-commercial drivers.

A first offense often results in:

A one-year CDL suspension even if your personal license is reinstated sooner
A three-year suspension if hazardous materials were being transported
Possible fines, surcharges or jail time

A second DUI offense can mean lifetime disqualification from holding a CDL. Even if the offense happens while driving a personal vehicle a conviction will still affect your commercial driving status.

I know how devastating that can be. As your criminal defense lawyer, I examine every step of your case from the traffic stop to the Alcotest procedure to find weaknesses in the prosecution’s evidence. My goal is to challenge improper testing, fight for reduced penalties and help you keep your license.

Commercial Driver License Violations

The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) lists several major violations that can impact a commercial driver. These include:

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Refusing a breath or chemical test
Leaving the scene of an accident
Using a commercial vehicle to commit a felony
Operating a commercial vehicle while your CDL is suspended

Some of these offenses cause immediate license suspension or disqualification. Others add points and create long-term employment issues. As a former Camden County assistant prosecutor I know how these cases are built and how to negotiate with the state to protect your record and your career.

Common Questions About DUI And CDL Penalties

Drivers often have questions about how a DUI charge affects their CDL status. Below are some of the most frequent ones I receive from commercial drivers facing these charges.

What happens if I get a DUI with a CDL in my personal vehicle?

Even if the offense happens in your own car you can still lose your CDL for one year. The state views a CDL as a professional credential and applies penalties that reach beyond your personal driving privileges. This means a single mistake off the job can end a commercial career.

Can you lose your CDL license for a DUI?

Yes. A first DUI conviction can suspend your CDL for at least a year. A second offense almost always leads to lifetime disqualification. These penalties apply whether you were driving your commercial truck or your personal vehicle at the time of the arrest.

What are the penalties for DUI with a CDL license?

The penalties include CDL suspension, fines, possible jail time and mandatory participation in alcohol education or treatment programs. For many drivers the bigger consequence is losing employment since most companies will not allow a driver with a suspended CDL to continue working.

Contact An Experienced DUI Defense Lawyer Who Will Fight For Your License

You want to do everything you can to keep your license while minimizing fines and avoiding jail time. I will look into every aspect of your arrest in order to help you build the best possible DUI defense. Offering flexible scheduling and free-off street parking, my Moorestown offices accept credit cards for all cases. Contact me today for a free initial consultation by calling 856-333-3586.