DWI Penalties for First Offense
Under New Jersey law, the penalties for a first-offense conviction depend on blood alcohol content. If your BAC is between 0.08% but less than 0.10%, a conviction results in a mandatory license revocation until an ignition interlock is installed. Once the ignition interlock is installed, your driving privileges are restored and it must remain for three (3) months. In addition, a conviction results in a fine between $250.00 and $400.00, 12-48 hours at an Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC) and up to 30 days imprisonment. If your BAC is 0.10% or above but less than .15%, penalties for a first-offense conviction include a mandatory license revocation until an ignition interlock is installed and then a seven (7) to twelve (12) month installation period, a fine between $300.00 and $500.00, 12-48 hours at an IDRC, and up to 30 days imprisonment. If your BAC is over a .15%, penalties for a first-offense conviction include a four (4) to six (6) month revocation of your driving privileges, a fine of $300.00 to $500.00, 12-48 hours IDRC, and the installation of an ignition interlock for a period of nine (9) to fifteen (15) months after your driving privileges are restored.
If you are convicted of a DUI for driving under the influence of drugs, the penalties for a first-offense conviction include a seven (7) to twelve (12) month loss of your driving privileges, a fine between $300.00 and $500.00, 12-48 hours in an IDRC, and up to 30 days imprisonment.
DWI Penalties for Second Offense
For a second-offense DWI conviction, penalties include a mandatory one to two year license suspension, a fine between $500.00 and $1,000.00, 30 days community service, 12-48 hours at an Intoxicated Drivers Resource Center (IDRC), and 48 hours to 90 days imprisonment. Additionally, for a second-offense conviction, the court will impose installation of an Ignition Interlock Device during the term of suspension and for two (2) to four (4) years after driving privileges have been restored.
DWI Penalties for Third Offense
Penalties for a third-offense conviction in New Jersey include a eight (8) year license suspension, a $1,000.00 fine, 180 days mandatory imprisonment, 90 days of which can be served in an approved inpatient drug or alcohol rehabilitation program. Additionally, for a third-offense conviction, the court will impose installation of an Ignition Interlock Device during the term of suspension and for two (2) to four (4) years after driving privileges have been restored.
Refusing to Provide a Breath Sample Penalties
A charge for refusing to submit to an Alcotest has serious penalties. For a first offense, penalties include a suspension of your driving privileges until an ignition interlock is installed, nine (9) to fifteen (15) months with the ignition interlock, and a $300.00 to $500.00 fine. For a second offense, penalties include a one to two-year license suspension, a $500.00 to $1,000.00 fine, and the installation of an ignition interlock for the period of suspension and for between two and four years following the restoration of driving privileges. For a third offense, penalties include an eight-year license suspension, a $1,000.00 fine, and the installation of an ignition interlock for the period of suspension and for between two and four years following the restoration of driving privileges. These penalties are in addition to any penalties you may receive from a DUI or DWI conviction and can run consecutive to those DWI penalties.
Additional Penalties
If you are convicted of a DWI and do not own, lease, or operate a motor vehicle, you must attest to this in Court. You will then have your driver’s license suspended for the period that the ignition interlock would be required. For example, if there was a first offense with a reading between a .08% and .10% BAC, then instead of ninety days with the ignition interlock device, you would instead have your driving privileges suspended for ninety days.