It is the holiday season, and the streets are filled with snow, good cheer and Christmas spirit. But with all this goodwill, and winter wonderland weather, it is important to make safe driving a top priority. Holiday parties, family dinners and get-togethers often result in sharing a few drinks and some good food, but when you combine drinks with some of winter’s snow and ice on the roads, the unsafe driving conditions could lead to huge, negative consequences for you and your passengers. DUI lawyers in Essex County want to remind drivers of the penalties they could face for unsafe or drunk driving.
New Jersey Point System
The state’s point system is used to assess penalties for different driving infractions and a certain number of points could lead to more severe penalties, such as license suspension. In bad weather, it can be difficult to see the road, especially if you are driving in the dark or before the roads have been plowed. Snowy or foggy conditions can compromise visibility for drivers and may make it hard to properly react to traffic signs, stoplights or obstacles on the road.
Unfortunately, no matter what the conditions are, driving safety is imperative. If an individual breaks any of the state’s driving laws, it could lead to that person accumulating points on his or her license. Some of the most common offenses that drivers commit, especially in poor driving conditions, are the following:
- Failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk – 2 points
- Failure to observe traffic signals – 2 points (although no points are assessed for a violation at a red light with a traffic camera)
- Failure to observe traffic lanes – 2 points
- Reckless driving – 5 points
- Careless driving – 2 points
- Failure to observe stop or yield signs – 2 points
While many of these may seem to carry only small point values, the 2s and 3s add up, and could take a few years to fall off your driving record. Attorneys warn that too many points can result in a long-term license suspension. To be sure, it is not only drunk driving for which people need to be on guard.
License Suspension
Your license can be suspended for a number of reasons in New Jersey, and it can take a great deal of effort to restore your driving privileges. A license can be suspended if you:
- Incurred 12 points or more on your current driving record
- Failed to pay court fines or appear in court
- Operated a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Obtained a reckless driving offense
- Was at fault in a fatal accident
Additionally, driving while your license is suspended could increase your period of suspension or cause you to face jail time for up to five years. In New Jersey, a driver who has had his or her license suspended cannot begin driving again until he or she restores the license through the MVC and receives a written notice of restoration.
Scott Gorman represents clients in Essex County and the surrounding areas who have been charged with DUI/DWI or other careless or reckless driving activity. The Gorman Law Firm hopes that everyone is safe and happy throughout this holiday season!
Published in Categories: Criminal Defense, DUI / DWI
