5 Tips for Avoiding a DUI This Summer

Did you know that a DUI charge in New Jersey can lead to expensive fines and jail time? You may even lose your driver’s license, which could affect your ability to hold down a job or manage your family duties. Summer is a time when many New Jersey police departments ramp up DUI checkpoints to crack down on drunk driving.

Follow these tips to avoid a New Jersey DUI this summer:

Schedule Alternative Transportation

Before heading out to any destinations where alcohol may be involved, consider scheduling alternative transportation. Contact a friend who may be able to come and get you after you’ve been drinking. Even better, use a rideshare app to go to your destination, so you won’t be tempted to drive home.

Know Your Limit

It’s also important to know the state, as well as your limit. The legal blood alcohol content (BAC) level in New Jersey is 0.08%. This means that anything over this amount is considered drunk driving. There isn’t a set number of drinks that leads to this BAC. Instead, it depends on things like your size, tolerance, and how much you’ve eaten.

You’ll also want to keep in mind certain factors that influence your limit. You may be used to two drinks, for example, but taking a new medication can increase the effects of the alcohol.

Know Your Rights

It’s also important to know your rights. For example, there are limits on what a police officer can request at a DUI checkpoint. Knowing your rights and what they cover can help you protect yourself from police officers who may try to trick you into taking a breathalyzer test.

Avoid Drinking and Driving Altogether

The best way to avoid a DUI is to avoid drinking and driving altogether. Sure, you could try to predict how many drinks you can safely have before getting behind the wheel, but this may not be accurate. You may still be pulled over, even if it’s for a cause unrelated to drinking. If the police officer registers alcohol, they may still arrest you.

Contact a DUI Lawyer

One of the first things to do following a DUI arrest is to contact a lawyer. The legal consequences of a DUI in New Jersey may lead to mandatory fines, IDRC requirements, insurance surcharges, and even jail time. If you have prior offenses, these consequences may be even more. You may be subject to losing your driver’s or professional’s license.

It’s also important to note that some jail time is common in New Jersey for a DUI, even for first-time offenders. If you’re charged with a DUI, you can expect an expensive, lengthy process going forward.

While skipping drinking and driving is the best way to avoid a DUI, there are other things that you can do to avoid criminal charges. For one, it’s important to know your limit and offset your drinking with water. If you are pulled over, always be honest with the police officer. Then, reach out to a DUI lawyer as soon as possible.

Contact an Experienced Evesham Township DWI Defense Attorney About Your Drunk Driving Charges in New Jersey

Have you been charged with a DWI or DUI offense in New Jersey? A drunk driving conviction could leave you with a permanent record, and it could result in your driver’s license being suspended for a very long time. That is why it is imperative that you speak with a qualified DWI defense lawyer about your case. The Law Offices of Michele Finizio represent clients charged with drunk driving, breath test refusal, and related offenses in Evesham Township, Mount Laurel, Willingboro, Pemberton, and throughout New Jersey. Call (609) 230-0374 or fill out our confidential online contact form to schedule a consultation about your case. We have an office located at 9 E Main St, Moorestown, NJ 08057, in addition to an office located in Cherry Hill, NJ.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.