Drunk Driving: A Serious Problem in New Jersey

It has been estimated that at some point in their lives, 40 percent of all persons in the U.S. will become involved in a traffic accident due to impaired driving. Drivers with blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels of 0.10 or more are seven times more likely to become involved in a fatal motor vehicle crash than those who have consumed no alcoholic beverages. Drivers with a BAC of 0.15 or greater are nearly 25 times more likely to become involved in a motor vehicle crash in which there is at least one fatality. Drunk drivers in Berger County, Essex County and throughout the state of New Jersey cause tragedies every day. Drunk Driving Crash Leaves 71-Year-Old Jefferson, New Jersey Man Disabled On March 12, 2010, a 23-year-old Jefferson man received a three-year prison sentence for a drunk-driving crash that left a 71-year-old senior citizen permanently disabled. An Oak Ridge man was driving under the influence of alcohol when his car crossed the double yellow center line and collided head-on with another vehicle driven by the 71-year-old senior. The senior citizen was on his way to work when the collision occurred. He became trapped in the wreckage. He had numerous broken bones, and has now become limited in his physical mobility and confined to a wheelchair. The legal limit of blood alcohol concentration in the state of New Jersey is 0.08. At the time of the crash, the drunk drivers blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level was 0.13, nearly twice the legal limit. After this collision this individual became involved in another drunk-driving incident. Just two months later he was arrested a second time for evading police while operating a motorcycle on Berkshire Valley Road. He led officers on a five-mile chase before stopping. His blood alcohol concentration was determined to be 0.15 percent. The man pled guilty to charges from both incidentsassault by auto and eluding police, and two driving- while-impaired summonses. He sought a sentence of probation with 12 to 18 months of in-patient alcoholism treatment. In his apology to the court, he stated that he had not intended to do anyone harm and had made stupid decisions. The Morris County Assistant Prosecutor sought the three-year sentence which was imposed, stating that the individual could have pursued treatment after the first crash and was in fact drunk during both incidents. New Jersey to Receive $2.5 Million for Drunk Driving Prevention On October 13, 2011, the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety was awarded $2.8 million by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for the prevention of drunk driving in the state. U.S. Senators Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg made the

announcement. The grant is part of a federal incentive program. The funds can be used to implement programs and to enact and enforce laws designed to fight alcohol impaired operation of motor vehicles. Lautenberg stated that since someone in the U.S. dies every 50 minutes from an alcohol related crash, funding programs designed to keep drunk drivers off the highways is critical. The grant will help to prevent tragic automobile collisions in New Jersey, saving the lives of New Jersey residents. Menendez stated that the new funding would help the state of New Jersey get tough on drunk drivers; it would thereby help to prevent alcohol related incidents on New Jersey highways. Drunk drivers cause senseless injuries and deaths. This funding will help police officers in New Jersey reduce the number of accidents. Earlier this year. Senators Tom Udall, Lautenberg and Menendez introduced legislation requiring the use of ignition interlock technology for all those with previous convictions for impaired driving. Under their proposed legislation, states who choose not to use the technology for repeat drunk-driving offenders would lose part of their federal transportation funding. Senator Lautenberg is very proud to have written the law which lowered the legal blood alcohol concentration limit to 0.08 in all 50 states. In addition, he wrote the law establishing the national legal drinking age of 21. Penalties for those convicted of driving under the influence in New Jersey are serious and heavy. They include the following:

Suspension of operators licenselicense loss for three months with a BAC greater than 0.08 percent but less than 0.10 percentlicense loss for seven months to one year with a BAC of 0.10 percent or greater Fines and court fees Requirement to install and use an ignition interlock deviceignition interlock device required when the BAC is 0.15 percent or greater Prison timeup to 30 days of prison time for a DUI conviction with a blood alcohol concentration of greater than 0.08 percent but less than 0.10 percent Community Servicefor second offense DUI within a period of ten years, 30 days community service along with up to 90 days prison time, two years license loss, 12 to 48 hours spent in education through the Intoxicated Driver Resource Center, and various fines and related court costs

Due to the fact that so many hardcore drunk drivers are alcohol dependent, rehabilitation and treatment programs should also be considered an integral component in combating the problem of drunk driving in New Jersey and across the nation. Contact an Attorney If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, contact the car accident attorneys of Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. today.

Call us at (800) LAW-2000 or fill out our online contact form. These articles are provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Professional legal counsel should be sought for specific advice relevant to your circumstances.