Where we fight
We know your court. Literally.
New Jersey DUI cases are decided in local municipal courts — the same rooms, week after week. We’ve written 53 courthouse guides covering where to park, what door to use, and what to expect. From actual appearances, not Google Maps.
See all 53 courthouse guides →In New Jersey, a DUI is decided by a judge in municipal court — there’s no jury. Preparation is everything.
Charged With a DUI / DWI in New Jersey? Fight Back Before You Plead Guilty.
A New Jersey DUI / DWI charge can change everything — your license, insurance, job, and even your freedom. Penalties can include license suspension, ignition interlock, thousands in fines and surcharges, mandatory classes, and even jail time for repeat offenders.
But being arrested for DUI or DWI does not mean you are guilty.
At Goldman Law Firm, we defend people charged with DUI, DWI, refusal, and alcohol-related driving offenses throughout New Jersey, regularly handling cases in Jersey Shore and surrounding municipal courts, including Lakewood, Jackson, Toms River, Brick, Wall, Howell, Freehold, Middletown, and beyond.
Many DUI / DWI cases come down to mistakes in police procedure, flaws in the investigation, problems with the Alcotest breath machine, or violations of your constitutional rights. We carefully review every detail to determine whether the State can actually prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
If you were arrested for DUI or DWI in New Jersey, do not plead guilty before speaking with an attorney.
Our DUI defense
Five places a DUI case can crack.
The State has to get every step right. Our job is to find the step where they didn’t.
The stop itself
Police need a lawful reason to pull you over. If the stop was bad, everything after it can fall with it — the field tests, the breath sample, all of it.
Field sobriety tests
Roadside balance tests are subjective — graded at night, on uneven pavement, under stress. Officers must follow strict standardized procedures, and mistakes happen more often than people realize.
The breath machine
A breath reading is only as good as the Alcotest machine and the operator. We challenge:
- The 20-minute observation period
- Calibration & maintenance records
- Operator certifications
- Testing procedures & documentation
Refusal charges
NJ refusal charges have strict procedural requirements — including exactly how the standard statement had to be read to you. Errors in the process can invalidate the charge. It’s a separate fight, and it’s winnable.
Cameras and paperwork
Body cams, dash cams, dispatch records, police reports — we pull all of it and line it up against what the officer wrote. Inconsistencies are leverage.
The State must prove a DUI / DWI beyond a reasonable doubt. We hold them to that burden.
Penalties for a DUI / DWI in New Jersey
New Jersey DWI penalties are set by N.J.S.A. 39:4-50. They are tiered: the sentence depends on your blood alcohol content (BAC) and whether this is a first, second, or third offense. The tier is not automatic — it rests on evidence that can be challenged.
First Offense — BAC 0.08% to 0.10%
- Your license is forfeited only until an ignition interlock device is installed in your car.
- You then drive with the interlock for 3 months.
- 12 to 48 hours at the Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC).
- Jail exposure of up to 30 days.
First Offense — BAC 0.10% to 0.15%
- License forfeited until the ignition interlock is installed.
- Interlock for 7 months to 1 year.
- 12 to 48 hours at the IDRC.
- Jail exposure of up to 30 days.
First Offense — BAC 0.15% or Higher
- License forfeiture of 4 to 6 months.
- Ignition interlock during the forfeiture and for 9 to 15 months after your license is restored.
- 12 to 48 hours at the IDRC.
- Jail exposure of up to 30 days.
Refusing the Breath Test
- Refusal is a separate charge under N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.4a — usually filed alongside the DWI itself.
- First offense: license forfeited until an ignition interlock is installed, then interlock for 9 to 15 months.
- Refusal has its own defenses — including whether the standard statement was read to you correctly.
Second Offense
- License suspension of 1 to 2 years.
- Ignition interlock during the suspension and for 2 to 4 years after restoration.
- Jail of 48 hours up to 90 days.
- 30 days of community service and 48 hours at the IDRC.
Third Offense
- License suspension of 8 years.
- 180 days in county jail — up to 90 of those days can be served in an approved inpatient treatment program.
- Ignition interlock during the suspension and for 2 to 4 years after restoration.
The 10-Year Step-Down Rule
If more than 10 years pass between offenses, the court sentences the new offense one tier lower. A second DWI that comes 12 years after the first is sentenced as a first offense.
Every tier also brings court costs, MVC surcharges, and a lasting insurance impact. And every tier turns on evidence — the stop, the Alcotest reading, the 20-minute observation period, the paperwork. A conviction follows you for years; early legal representation matters.
Arrested for DWI on the Palisades Interstate Parkway? A parkway DWI is still charged under N.J.S.A. 39:4-50, but the case is heard in the Court of the Palisades Interstate Park in Alpine — and it runs virtually, so we can handle it from anywhere.
Why Choose Goldman Law Firm for Your New Jersey DUI / DWI Case?
Local Court Experience
Goldman Law Firm regularly handles DUI / DWI matters in Jersey Shore and surrounding municipal courts, including Lakewood, Jackson, Toms River, Brick, Wall, Howell, Freehold, Middletown, and surrounding communities.
Direct Attorney Access
When you call Goldman Law Firm, you speak directly with the firm — not a call center or intake screener.
Straightforward Pricing
Most DUI / DWI cases are handled on a flat-fee basis. Fees are discussed upfront after we review your case.
Available 24/7
DUI / DWI arrests do not happen during business hours. We make ourselves available when clients need answers most.
Spanish-Speaking Representation
Full Spanish-language representation is available.
DUI Defense by County
We defend DUI and DWI charges in every municipal court across our two core counties. Choose yours for local court logistics, the roads where stops happen, and the towns we cover:
Arrested for a DUI / DWI in New Jersey?
Do not plead guilty before understanding your options. Call Goldman Law Firm today at (908) 692-7745 for a free consultation.
Arrested at the Jersey Shore over a holiday weekend? Shore towns run their heaviest DWI enforcement of the summer around Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day — and what you do before your first court date matters most. Start here: our Jersey Shore holiday-weekend arrest guide, or call 908-692-7745 for a free consult, 24/7.