Information on what the Ignition Interlock Device Laws are in the Garden State of NJ
Trenton, Newark, Jersey City, Atlantic City, Hoboken, Princeton, and all other cities in the state of New Jersey have the same rules and regulations when it comes NJ Ignition Interlock laws for DWI, DUI, and drinking and driving charges. Those drivers who are pulled over with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or more will be arrested and charged with Driving Under the Influence (DUI) or Driving While Intoxicated (DWI). Individuals who are subsequently convicted of DWI or DWI charges even for a 1st offense, will face a number of penalties including a driver’s license suspension, time in jail, monetary fines, and possibly having to use an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) in any car they drive. In order to potentially avoid having to get an Ignition Interlock installed for a DWI in New Jersey, as well as prevent a driver’s license from getting suspended, a driver should have their DWI or DUI arrest reviewed online by us as soon as possible in order to find what the best defense options are based upon what happened.
The standard for being charged with drinking and driving in NJ and with DWI arrests across the country is generally having a BAC of 0.08 percent. This commonality is due to research that was performed to help understand the effects of alcohol on people’s ability to drive. Most drivers with a BAC of 0.05 percent were too impaired to drive, and all drivers with a BAC of 0.08 percent were too impaired to drive. Additionally, those under the age of 21 can be charged with DWI should their BAC be at or above 0.02 percent, and commercial vehicle drivers can also be charged with a blood alcohol content level of 0.04 percent or more.
What Are the Penalties for Driving Under the Influence & DWI in New Jersey?
Individuals convicted of a DWI offense charge in this NJ will face a number of different penalties, which will include having to install an Ignition Interlock device. These DWI an Interlock penalties are meant to discourage offenders from repeating their drinking and driving behavior, helping to keep them and others on the road safe. For those convicted of a first time DWI and DUI offense in New Jersey, or those with no previous drinking and driving offenses, they will face the following penalties:
- Jail Sentence of Up to 30 Days
- Fines Between $250 and $500
- NJ Driver’s License Suspension of Three Months to One Year
- Possible Ignition Interlock Device Installation Requirement
2nd DWI & DUI offense drivers are those individuals with previous DWI related convictions on their past criminal record, and the state of New Jersey has a look-back period of 10 years. Those offenders with one previous DWI offense in the last 10 years are second time offenders and receive the following penalties:
- Jail Sentence of Up to 90 Days
- Fines Between $500 and $1,000
- Driver’s License Suspension of Two Years
- Needing to Install an Ignition Interlock Device on any Car Driven by a NJ DWI Offender
Third-time offenders with two previous DWI offenses in the last 10 years are third time offenders and receive the following penalties:
- Jail Sentence of Up to 180 Days
- Fines of $1,000
- New Jersey DWI Driver’s License Suspension Period of 10 Years
- Having to Get a DWI Interlock Device Installed on Every Vehicle a Person Will be Driving (Includes Work Vehicles)
Besides the costs of the Ignition Interlock installation requirement, there are also some other DWI penalties individuals face simply for being arrested for a drinking and driving related crime in NJ. Some of these additional penalties include:
- $100 State and Municipality Fee
- $100 Violent Crimes Compensation Fee
- $100 for the Drunk Driving Enforcement Fund
- $100 Motor Vehicle Restoration Fee
- $100 Intoxicated Driver Program Fee
What is an Ignition Interlock Device, and How Does It Work With DWI Laws in New Jersey?
An Ignition Interlock in NJ is a device that works very similarly to the Breathalyzer test used by law enforcement officers. This device is installed in DWI and DUI offenders’ cars and likely any other vehicle registered in their name. An IID is meant to deter individuals from partaking in drinking and driving, and this is accomplished by requiring offenders to provide a breath sample before they can start their vehicle. The DWI Interlock is calibrated with a pre-determined BAC threshold, which is generally set at 0.02 percent in the state of New Jersey.
When the breath sample given is below this pre-determined threshold, the vehicle starts as normal, but when the breath sample is above the pre-determined threshold, the Interlock prevents the vehicle from starting. Additionally, some devices are set to require random breath samples after the car has already been started. If this retested sample is above the pre-determined threshold, the event is logged in the device’s memory storage, and while the car does not stop, when this happens an alarm sounds until the vehicle has been parked and the engine turned off.
When is Using an Ignition Interlock Device Required for a DWI Offense in the State of NJ?
The state of New Jersey has authorized the use of an Ignition Interlock device for specific drivers who have been convicted of DWI, DUI, or other drinking and driving related crimes. Courts can authorize the installation and maintenance of an Interlock as a condition of having an offender’s driving privileges reinstated. Some of the circumstances in which an Ignition Interlock device may be required include, but are not limited to, the following 2 scenarios:
- First time NJ DWI & DUI offenders whose blood alcohol content is greater than 0.15 percent
- Convicted repeat or 2nd DWI offense drivers, or those found guilty of other drinking and driving related charges
Who is Responsible for Paying for all the Costs of the New Jersey Ignition Interlock Device?
In most DWI and other drinking and driving cases that order the use of Interlock device, New Jersey offenders using the IID are responsible for paying for its installation and maintenance costs. Offenders should be prepared to pay anywhere up to $100 or more to have the device installed in their vehicle as well as between $70 and $120 a month to lease the device from an Ignition Interlock provider. It is important to know these costs are just rough estimates, and prices vary based on the provider and his or her specific conditions.
What is the Process of Getting an Ignition Interlock Device in New Jersey Installed on My Car?
After NJ DWI offenders have been convicted or plead guilty, and in some cases served a portion of their driver’s license suspension, it is possible for the court to authorize them to get an Ignition Interlock device installed in order to regain their driving privileges. Once this has occurred, individuals have a window of time in which they need to lease the Interlock and have it installed in their car. DWI drivers will need to lease the IID from a state approved provider – these Ignition Interlock device providers can be found across the state, and a full list can be found on the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission website.
Once the DWI Interlock device has been leased from a state of New Jersey approved provider, it needs to be professionally installed in the offender’s vehicle in order to properly comply with the state laws. It is important to make sure the device is installed and working properly so individuals remain within the guidelines set forth by the court. Once this entire process has been completed, it is not uncommon for offenders to have to report back on their status to either the judge, the court, their probation officer, or the MVC. Most often, convicted DWI and DUI drivers in NJ will need to provide a copy of the IID lease agreement as well one of the receipt they received once the device was installed in their vehicle. Once a New Jersey Ignition Interlock lawyer reviews a person’s own arrest information online with us as to what took place, they can then be able let a driver know of any possible ways and defense options for how to avoid having to get and install an Ignition Interlock device in:
[column col=”1/4″]Atlantic CountyBergen County
Burlington County
Camden County
Cape May County
Cumberland County
Essex County
Gloucester County
Hudson County
Hunterdon County
Mercer County
Middlesex County
Monmouth County
Morris County
Ocean County
Passaic County
Salem County
Somerset County
Sussex County
Union County
Warren County
Absecon
Allamuchy-Panther Valley
Allendale
Allenhurst
Allentown
Allenwood
Alloway
Alpha
Alpine
Andover
Annandale
Asbury Park
Ashland
Atlantic City
Atlantic Highlands
Audubon
Audubon Park
Avalon
Avenel
Avon-by-the-Sea
Barclay-Kingston
Barnegat
Barnegat Light
Barrington
Bay Head
Bayonne
Beach Haven
Beach Haven West
Beachwood
Beatyestown
Beckett
Belford
Belleville
Bellmawr
Belmar
Belvidere
Bergenfield
Berkeley Heights
Berlin
Bernardsville
Beverly
Blackwood
Bloomfield
Bloomingdale
Bloomsbury
Bogota
Boonton
Bordentown
Bound Brook
Bradley Beach
Branchville
Brass Castle
Bridgeton
Brielle
Brigantine
Brooklawn
Browns Mills
Brownville
Budd Lake
Buena
Burlington
Butler
Caldwell
Califon
Camden
Cape May
Cape May Court House
Cape May Point
Carlstadt
Carneys Point
Carteret
Cedar Glen Lakes
Cedar Glen West
Cedar Grove
Cedarville
Chatham
Cherry Hill Mall
Chesilhurst
Chester
Clark
Clayton
Clearbrook Park
Clementon
Cliffside Park
Cliffwood Beach
Clifton
Clinton
Closter
Collings Lakes
Collingswood
Colonia
Concordia
Corbin City
Country Lake Estates
Cranbury
Crandon Lakes
Cranford
Cresskill
Crestwood Village
Dayton
Deal
Demarest
Diamond Beach
Dover
Dover Beaches North
Dover Beaches South
[/column] [column col=”1/4″]Dumont
Dunellen
East Brunswick
East Freehold
East Newark
East Orange
East Rutherford
Eatontown
Echelon
Edgewater
Edison
Egg Harbor City
Elizabeth
Elmer
Elmwood Park
Elwood-Magnolia
Emerson
Englewood
Englewood Cliffs
Englishtown
Erlton-Ellisburg
Erma
Essex Fells
Estell Manor
Ewing
Fairfield
Fair Haven
Fair Lawn
Fairton
Fairview
Fairview
Fanwood
Far Hills
Farmingdale
Fieldsboro
Flemington
Florence-Roebling
Florham Park
Folsom
Fords
Forked River
Fort Dix
Fort Lee
Franklin
Franklin Lakes
Freehold
Frenchtown
Garfield
Garwood
Gibbsboro
Gibbstown
Glassboro
Glendora
Glen Gardner
Glen Ridge
Glen Rock
Gloucester City
Golden Triangle
Great Meadows-Vienna
Greentree
Guttenberg
Hackensack
Hackettstown
Haddonfield
Haddon Heights
Haledon
Hamburg
Hammonton
Hampton
Harrington Park
Harrison
Harvey Cedars
Hasbrouck Heights
Haworth
Hawthorne
Heathcote
Helmetta
High Bridge
Highland Lake
Highland Park
Highlands
Hightstown
Hillsdale
Hillside
Hi-Nella
Hoboken
Ho-Ho-Kus
Holiday City-Berkeley
Holiday City South
Holiday Heights
Hopatcong
Hopewell
Interlaken
Irvington
Iselin
Island Heights
Jamesburg
Jersey City
Keansburg
Kearny
Kendall Park
Kenilworth
Keyport
Kingston
Kinnelon
Lakehurst
Lake Mohawk
Lake Telemark
Lakewood
Lambertville
Laurel Lake
Laurel Springs
Laurence Harbor
Lavallette
Lawnside
Lawrenceville
Lebanon
Leisure Knoll
Leisuretowne
Leisure Village
Leisure Village East
Leisure Village West-Pine Lake Park
Leonardo
Leonia
Lincoln Park
Lincroft
Linden
Lindenwold
Linwood
Little Falls
Little Ferry
Little Silver
Livingston
Loch Arbour village
Lodi
Long Branch
Longport
Long Valley
[/column] [column col=”1/4″]Lyndhurst
McGuire AFB
Madison
Madison Park
Magnolia
Manahawkin
Manasquan
Mantoloking
Manville
Maplewood
Margate City
Marlton
Matawan
Mays Landing
Maywood
Medford Lakes
Mendham
Mercerville-Hamilton Square
Merchantville
Metuchen
Middlesex
Midland Park
Milford
Millburn
Millstone
Milltown
Millville
Monmouth Beach
Monmouth Junction
Montclair
Montvale
Moonachie
Moorestown-Lenola
Morganville
Morris Plains
Morristown
Mountain Lakes
Mountainside
Mount Arlington
Mount Ephraim
Mullica Hill
Mystic Island
National Park
Navesink
Neptune City
Netcong
Newark
New Brunswick
New Egypt
Newfield
New Milford
New Providence
Newton
North Arlington
North Beach Haven
North Brunswick Township
North Caldwell
North Cape May
Northfield
North Haledon
North Middletown
North Plainfield
Northvale
North Wildwood
Norwood
Nutley
Oakhurst
Oakland
Oaklyn
Oak Valley
Ocean Acres
Ocean City
Ocean Gate
Ocean Grove
Oceanport
Ogdensburg
Old Bridge
Old Tappan
Olivet
Oradell
Orange
Oxford
Palisades Park
Palmyra
Paramus
Park Ridge
Passaic
Paterson
Paulsboro
Peapack and Gladstone
Pemberton
Pemberton Heights
Pennington
Pennsauken
Penns Grove
Pennsville
Perth Amboy
Phillipsburg
Pine Beach
Pine Hill
Pine Ridge at Crestwood
Pine Valley
Pitman
Plainfield
Plainsboro Center
Pleasantville
Point Pleasant
Point Pleasant Beach
Pomona
Pompton Lakes
Port Monmouth
Port Norris
Port Reading
Port Republic
Presidential Lakes Estates
Princeton
Princeton Junction
Princeton Meadows
Princeton North
Prospect Park
Rahway
Ramblewood
Ramsey
Ramtown
Raritan
Red Bank
Ridgefield
Ridgefield Park village
Ridgewood village
Ringwood
Rio Grande
Riverdale
River Edge
Riverton
River Vale
Rochelle Park
Rockaway
Rockleigh
[/column] [column col=”1/4″]Rocky Hill
Roosevelt
Roseland
Roselle
Roselle Park
Rosenhayn
Rossmoor
Rumson
Runnemede
Rutherford
Saddle Brook
Saddle River
Salem
Sayreville
Scotch Plains
Sea Bright
Seabrook Farms
Sea Girt
Sea Isle City
Seaside Heights
Seaside Park
Secaucus
Sewaren
Shark River Hills
Shiloh
Ship Bottom
Shrewsbury
Silver Ridge
Society Hill
Somerdale
Somerset
Somers Point
Somerville
South Amboy
South Belmar
South Bound Brook
South Orange
South Plainfield
South River
South Toms River
Spotswood
Springdale
Springfield
Spring Lake
Spring Lake Heights
Stanhope
Stockton
Stone Harbor
Stratford
Strathmere
Strathmore
Succasunna-Kenvil
Summit
Surf City
Sussex
Swedesboro
Tavistock
Teaneck
Tenafly
Teterboro
Tinton Falls
Toms River
Totowa
Trenton
Tuckerton
Turnersville
Twin Rivers
Union
Union Beach
Union City
Upper Saddle River
Ventnor City
Vernon Valley
Verona
Victory Gardens
Victory Lakes
Villas
Vineland
Vista Center
Waldwick
Wallington
Wanamassa
Wanaque
Waretown
Washington
Washington Township
Watchung
Wayne
Wenonah
West Belmar
West Caldwell
West Cape May
Westfield
West Freehold
West Long Branch
West Milford
West New York
West Orange
West Paterson
Westville
West Wildwood
Westwood
Wharton
White Horse
White House Station
White Meadow Lake
Whitesboro-Burleigh
Whittingham
Wildwood
Wildwood Crest
Williamstown
Woodbine
Woodbridge
Woodbury
Woodbury Heights
Woodcliff Lake
Woodlynne
Wood-Ridge
Woodstown
Wrightstown
Wyckoff
Yardville-Groveville
Yorketown
[/column]