Driving while intoxicated (DWI) is deemed a criminal offense under New Jersey law and thereby requires you to defend yourself in criminal court proceedings. The last thing you may want is to receive a guilty verdict and have this on your permanent criminal record. So before it gets to this point, please read on to discover how to get your DWI charge reduced or dismissed and how a seasoned Gloucester County DWI lawyer at The Vigilante Law Firm, P.C. can help make this possible.
Can I get my DWI charge reduced?
In 2023, Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill which now allows defendants to enter plea bargains with prosecutors over DWI cases in the state of New Jersey. This means that, yes, you may have the opportunity to negotiate with a prosecutor to reduce the DWI charges placed against you; and subsequently, to reduce the penalties you must pay.
Here, you may have a better argument to reduce your charges and punishments if this is your first offense. Or, if your incident did not result in a collision with another vehicle or injuries to any innocent third parties. In an ideal scenario, a prosecutor may agree to turn your charge into a reckless driving offense. Though you may still face some consequences with this serious traffic violation, it may not appear on your permanent criminal record.
How can I get my DWI dismissed altogether?
You must understand that entering a plea bargain requires your admittance of guilt in driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. So, if you believe that this was a false accusation made against you and you are not guilty, you may sooner want your DWI charge to be dismissed altogether. Well, this may only be made possible if certain circumstances surrounded your incident, along with if you can effectively prove them to the New Jersey criminal court. Examples of such circumstances read as follows:
- You may be able to effectively argue that the law enforcement officer failed to read your Miranda Rights when arresting you.
- You may be able to effectively argue that the law enforcement officer failed to use a breathalyzer properly during your traffic stop.
- You may be able to effectively argue that the law enforcement officer failed to order standard field sobriety tests during your traffic stop.
When you challenge the prosecutor’s evidence in this manner, you may effectively bar it from being submitted and used in your case proceedings. In getting rid of this pivotal evidence, the prosecutor may not have enough to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you were intoxicated at the time of your traffic stop or accident event.
And so, if you are ready to get started on your legal defense, now is a better time than ever to contact one of the experienced New Jersey & Pennsylvania criminal defense lawyers. The Vigilante Law Firm, P.C. is here to help.
