With a location convenient to Great Egg Harbor, Ocean City, Atlantic City, and other New Jersey shore points, Somers Point is both a popular bay town destination and also a common thoroughfare for those heading toward other attractions along the New Jersey shore. With both local and state police monitoring the roads and highways of Somers Point, and many vacationers venturing out from the “dry” town of Ocean City for some of to take advantage of dining and entertainment prospects in surrounding areas, Somers Point is also a popular area for DWI and DUI arrests. Driving While Intoxicated and Driving Under the Influence charges can unfortunately be exorbitantly costly in inconvenient drivers convicted of these types of charges. New Jersey law mandates steep fines and serious penalties for DUI and DWI offenders under N.J.S.A. 39:4-50 – even those with previously clean driving records. If you have been arrested on DUI or DWI charges, you may be facing penalties such as a year-long driver’s license suspension, requirements to install and maintain a cumbersome and expensive ignition interlock system on your vehicle, and even jail time of up to 30 days. Each case is unique, and many factors can affect the penalties and fines ultimately imposed on a driver, but the consequences always have the potential to harshly affect your life and livelihood. At the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, we are available 24/7 for a free consultation to review the specific facts of your case and provide careful guidance on implementing the best possible approach in order to minimize the potential harsh penalties and their impact on your life.
Arrested for DWI in Somers Point New Jersey
As a prerequisite for making an arrest for Driving While Intoxicated or Driving Under the Influence, a police officer must first conclude that there is probable cause to believe that you are intoxicated or under the influence of a controlled substance while operating a motor vehicle. One common method that the authorities use to establish this probable cause is a course of Standard Field Sobriety Tests (SFST’s). The officer might ask you to perform tests such as the “Walk and Turn” test, the “One Leg Stand” test, and the “Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus” test. Guidelines are provided to dictated how these tests should be used according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). If a police officer believes that you may be driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated, he will instruct you on how to complete these tests, and then observe your balance, coordination, and ability to follow instructions, among other factors, while noting any signs of intoxication or impairment. At the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, two of our seasoned attorneys are certified as SFST instructors, a qualification claimed by only 50 attorneys state-wide. With this valuable certification among our arsenal of expertise and knowledge, our powerful legal defense team is well equipped to aggressively handle issues relating to the use of these tests in the field, and to successfully tackle the wide array of legal issues regarding SFST’s that commonly arise in DWI and DUI matters. Another strategy that the police often use to support DWI convictions is the breathalyzer test, which relies on a blood alcohol content (BAC) reading generated by an Alcotest 7110 machine after the suspected driver provides a breath sample. Our powerful legal defense team has significant experience defending Driving While Intoxicated charges, as well as extensive knowledge of the intricate workings of the breathalyzer test and the strict requirements that must be followed in order for reliable results to be obtained. Therefore, we are often able to keep BAC evidence out of court in order to minimize the penalties associated with a DWI charge, or even get charges dismissed entirely.
Many of our attorneys have served as municipal prosecutors in the past, representing over 25 different municipalities throughout New Jersey. This previous experience has equipped our legal defense team with a powerful set of tools and in-depth understanding of the legal system and how prosecutors build their cases, which uniquely positions us to apply this knowledge and expertise on your behalf as we aggressively work toward a favorable resolution of your case. Call us at 855-450-8310 any time, day or night, for a free consultation to discuss how the powerful legal defense team at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall can put our years of experience and extensive legal knowledge to work for you.
Somers Point Municipal Court
Location: 1 West New Jersey Avenue, Somers Point, NJ 08244
Phone: (609) 609-927-9088 Option 6
Court Schedule: Tuesdays at 5 PM
Judge: Howard Freed
Prosecutor: Marc Nehmad, Esq.
Court Admin: Margaret Wismer
