“Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Campaign is Back
New Jersey has given out more than $600,000 in grants this holiday season in order to help make the roadways safer. New Jersey’s “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign is back at it again after a successful holiday season the last two years. According to the reports, in 2018, the holiday blitz lead to more than 1,269 arrests for driving while intoxicated. According to officials, the hope is that with the more awareness drawn to this campaign it will deter those considering driving while intoxicated this holiday season. The grant, which is spread over 133 municipalities throughout New Jersey, is meant to increase the number of checkpoints as well as help increase the number of patrol cars on the roadways. Seventeen towns throughout Somerset County have received a portion of this grant, which is by far the most municipalities in any county. As you can see, Somerset County is making sure they are primed to be extremely proactive this holiday season.
Charged with DWI in Bedminster New Jersey?
As touched upon earlier, Somerset County has the most municipalities receiving some portion of the $600,000 grant this holiday season. The municipalities and the amounts they have received are as follows:
- Bedminster – $1,760
- Bernards – $1,870
- Bernardsville – $880
- Branchburg – $1,980
- Bridgewater -$1,100
- Far Hills – $1,760
- Franklin Township – $1,650
- Green Brook – $1,870
- Hillsborough – $1,100
- Manville – $1,980
- Montgomery – $1,980
- North Plainfield – $1,100
- Peapack-Gladstone – $1,980
- Raritan Borough – $1,980
- Somerset County Sheriff’s Office – $1,760
- South Bound Brook – $1,760
- Warren– $1,870
New Jersey Makes Major Changes to Potential DWI Penalties
This blitz comes on the eve of New Jersey making its first major shift in the potential penalties one faces if convicted of driving while intoxicated, especially first time offenders. Under the new law, which took effect December 1, 2019. The main crux in the change in the law is that those convicted will no longer be required to suffer a license suspension under most circumstances but instead be required to install the ignition interlock device. Here is some of the potential ramifications for anyone convicted of driving under the influence as a first time offender in New Jersey.
First Time Offender: Blood Alcohol Content: .08% – .10%
- No Mandatory License Suspension;
- Imposition of the Ignition Interlock Device for 3 Months
First Time Offender: Blood Alcohol Content: .10% – .15%
- No Mandatory License Suspension;
- Imposition of the Ignition Interlock Device for 7 – 12 Months
First Time Offender: Blood Alcohol Content: .15% and Above
- 4 – 6 Month License Suspension;
- Imposition of the Ignition Interlock Device for 9 – 15 Months
DWI Defense Attorneys Near Raritan NJ
As you can see from the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, New Jersey is taking a very proactive approach to attempt to make the roadways safer this holiday season. If you or a loved one has unfortunately been charged with driving while intoxicated, refusal to submit a breath sample, assault by auto, eluding, driving under the influence of drugs or any other offense for that matter, the Keith Oliver Criminal Law can help. Our office serves all of Somerset and Hunterdon County, including towns like Clinton, Hillsborough, Union, Bound Brook, Watchung, Bernards, Readington, Bernardsville, North Plainfield and Manville. If you would like to set up a free initial consultation today, please contact our office directly at 908-533-1064 or you can try contacting us online.
For more information on “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” please checkout nj.com’s article labeled N.J.’s holiday DWI ticket blitz starts Friday. These 133 departments got OT grants for crackdown.
