Union

When you see blue flashing lights behind you, you may expect that the officer is hurrying to investigate an accident or perhaps chasing down a speeding driver. But what if the worst happens, and those blue lights are for you? You may start to panic, and thoughts may swirl through your mind as you fumble for your driver's license and registration. You may worry about whether you will serve time in jail and what will happen to your career plans if you have a DWI on your record. At Levow DWI Law, P.C., our Union DWI lawyers understand your emotions. We have guided thousands of drivers through DWI cases, listening compassionately to their stories and fighting to get charges dropped or dismissed.

While you may feel distraught at being pulled over, an arrest is not the end of the story. It does not prove that you have done anything wrong. To get a conviction, the prosecution needs to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. At Levow DWI Law, P.C., we make sure that those words mean what they say. We do not back down and walk our clients into court to plead them guilty. There is a reason why Evan Levow is known as the "DWI attorney's attorney." Attorney Levow and his colleagues have shaped the evolution of DWI law in New Jersey by winning victories in landmark cases and educating our peers on defense strategies. We know just as much about the equipment used to measure the blood alcohol content (BAC) of drivers as do the officers who conduct the tests. Attorney Levow has also been certified as an instructor in field sobriety testing making him qualified to instruct police in the proper administration of roadside tests. If you have been stopped on I-78, the Garden State Parkway, U.S. Route 22, State Route 82, or another road in Union, our knowledgeable DWI attorneys should be your first call.

Like most states, New Jersey defines the offense of DWI largely in terms of a driver's BAC. A driver can face an arrest if his or her blood alcohol content is 0.08% or greater. In some circumstances, a driver can be convicted of drunk driving with an even lower BAC. For example, a driver under the age of 21 who registers any alcohol in their blood can be prosecuted for DWI.

You should know that a breath alcohol test is far from foolproof. A police officer may not have been thoroughly trained, or they may miss a step when they are administering any given test. Likewise, not every Alcotest® machine is correctly calibrated or kept in proper working order. Rather than being intimidated into a guilty plea, a driver should retain legal counsel who can explore the possibility of any flaws in the testing process. A Union DWI attorney who knows how these tests are supposed to be administered and how the equipment is designed to work may be able to discredit the arresting officer, resulting in the dismissal of the charges.

If your case proceeds to trial, it probably will be heard by a municipal court judge. The Union Municipal Court is located at 1981 Caldwell Avenue in Union, New Jersey. Their business hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Court sessions are typically held on Monday through Thursday mornings at 9 a.m. and on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 6 p.m. It is important to note that New Jersey DWI cases are "bench trials," which means that a judge makes the decision rather than a jury. This is because New Jersey classifies the offense of DWI as a "motor vehicle offense" rather than a "criminal offense." Despite this distinction, a conviction of DWI can carry harsh consequences, including jail time (up to 30 days even for a first offense), fines, the suspension of driving privileges, and an automobile insurance surcharge that can last for several years.

If you have been arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, you need an attorney who knows DWI law inside and out and who will be a powerful advocate in court. 100 % of our practice is devoted to DWI defense. We are here to help and offer a free consultation. Please call us today at 877-593-1717.