Reader’s Question:

My driver’s license was suspended because of a DUI charge. I wonder what will happen if I will be caught driving with a suspended license here in Trenton New Jersey? What are the consequences? Would there be any penalties?

Alvin

Trenton, NJ

If you will be caught driving in New Jersey while on a suspended driver’s license because of a DUI charge, it can have serious and inconvenient consequences. These would include a fine of $500 for the first offense. You will have a fine of $750 and jail time of up to five days for the second offense. For the third and subsequent offense, there would be a fine of $1,000 and jail time of 10 days. You will have an additional fine of $3,000 if you had unpaid surcharges. You are also facing an additional $500 fine if you don’t have an insurance, an additional license suspension of up to 2 years and jail time up to 90 days. You will have an additional jail time of 45 days if someone was injured in an accident.

For all of these offenses, you can lose your license for up to six months. After your current suspension has been served, the suspension is served consecutively.

Make sure you don’t get caught driving with a suspended license in New Jersey. Better yet, don’t drive at all with a suspended driver’s license because unfortunately, New Jersey does not issue hardship licenses or conditional licenses for drivers who have had their licenses suspended.

Reader’s Question:

My boyfriend was charged with DWI here in New Jersey. This is his first offense. I used to live in New York and my brother has been convicted there before with DWI and spent months in prison and paid $500 and penalty assessments. Are the penalties the same in each state? I need to know these things so that we know the consequences if my boyfriend will be convicted.

Eliza

Elizabeth, NJ

Driving While Intoxicated in the State of New Jersey means a bunch of penalties that include fees, charges and surcharges, imprisonment or mandatory counseling. There is no difference between DUI (Driving Under the Influence) and DWI in New Jersey.

If this is his first DWI offense in New Jersey, expect a fine of $250 to $400, a jail time not exceeding 30 days and suspension of his license for three months. Moreover, there would be a New Jersey Motor Vehicles Commission (NJMVC) surcharge of $1,000 per year for three years and payments of $200 to the DWI Enforcement Fund, $50 to the Violent Crimes Compensation Fund, $75 to the Safe Neighborhood Fund, and $200 for license restoration. He would also have to undergo counseling for 12 to 48 hours at an Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC) in which may cost $150, and extra payment if outpatient counseling is stipulated by the IDRC.

If he will be convicted with DWI, this would become a permanent part of his driving record in New Jersey. The premium could be higher for a person with a DWI tag since many insurance companies look into the driving history for three years.