The attorneys at our firm are well aware of what you up against if you have been charged with DWI in Cliffside Park. The founding partner of our firm was raised in this Bergen County municipality and now heads up the largest drunk driving defense firm in the state. He is also one of three lawyers at The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall who are among a group of far less than ten in New Jersey who are dual certified on the Alcotest and as instructors in field sobriety testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The former prosecutors and highly trained DUI lawyers have exceptional skills to insure that you have every chance of escaping the mandatory penalties under N.J.S.A. 39:4-50 (“Driving while intoxicated”). To speak to a DWI attorney at The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall in a free initial consultation, call our East Rutherford Office at 201-933-4472 for a free consultation.
DUI Charge in Cliffside Park Municipal Court
Although it ranks near the bottom in size in Bergen County, you certainly would not know this from the number of DUI charges heard annually in the Cliffside Park Municipal Court. The town consistently ranks in the top quarter in terms of DWI, DUI and breath test refusal offenses issued within the .963 square miles of the Borough. If you were arrested and charged in this manner, your case will be heard in the municipal court located at 525 Palisade Avenue, Cliffside Park, NJ 07010. The court conducts sessions every Thursday at 6:00 p.m. with special DWI sessions on Tuesdays. The Court Administrator is Linda D’Angelo and she can be reached weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. at 201-313-2018. The judge that will preside over all proceedings in your case is Honorable Michael S. Shuhala. He will make all decisions of fact and law without the assistance of a jury as there is no right to a trial by your peers under the law. The prosecutor representing the state is Arthur Balsamo, Esq.
It is pivotal that you take your DWI or driving under the influence of drugs charge seriously since there are strict rules and penalties that apply. You will not be permitted to resort to plea bargaining in order to obtain relief from the license suspension, fines, surcharges and other penalties that apply in NJ. What this means is that your attorney will have to come up with a legitimate factual or legal issue that prevents the state from proving the offense, otherwise, Judge Shuhala lacks any ability to grant you relief from 39:4-50. This means you will face the following:
- First Offense. License suspension of 3 months for a BAC reading of at least .08% but less than .10%, and 7-12 months for BAC results of .10% or more. There are also fines and assessments approximating $1,000 and a three year annual DMV surcharge of $1,000. The court may impose up to 30 days in the county jail for a first offense.
- Second Offense. The fines, surcharge and other financial penalties are very similar for a second offense, however, there is a two year mandatory license suspension that applies. In addition, you must serve 2-90 days of incarceration, 30 days of community service, and install an ignition interlock on your vehicle for 1-3 years following restoration of your privileges.
- Third Offense. The biggest consequences of a third offense is a 180 day jail sentence that cannot be relaxed except that up to 90 days may be served in an inpatient rehabilitation facility. There is also a 10 year revocation of your driving privileges, significant fines and assessments, and a $1,500 surcharge for 3 years that apply.
Cliffside Park NJ DUI Lawyer
The ramifications of a conviction in Cliffside Park for DUI are clearly significant. Our attorneys can, however, assist you in averting these penalties and moving on with your life with minimal impact. To speak to a lawyer on the defense team at The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, call our office anytime 24/7 for immediate assistance. One of our experienced NJ DWI attorneys will be happy to review the circumstances of your arrest and formulate an effective plan to defend the charge.
