New Jersey First Offense DUI Lawyer

1st Offense DUI Defense Attorney in Totowa, NJ, Offering Experienced Legal Representation

You weren't planning on getting pulled over. Maybe you had a couple of drinks at dinner, or you thought you were fine to drive home from a friend's house. Our New Jersey first offense DUI lawyer can help you navigate this.

The good news is that first-time offenders have options. There are ways for experienced New Jersey DUI attorneys to challenge the charges or minimize the consequences. We scrutinize everything. The traffic stop, the field sobriety tests, and the breathalyzer calibration. Police make mistakes.

A strong defense can protect your driving privileges, your job, and your future. The sooner you act, the more options you have. Contact us today for a free consultation, and let's fight this charge together.

How Someone Gets Charged With a DUI in New Jersey

In New Jersey, you can be charged with a DUI if you operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher.

But here's what catches people off guard:

You can still be convicted even if your BAC is below that threshold.

The law focuses on impairment. If alcohol affects your ability to drive safely—dulling your reflexes, slowing your reaction time, or clouding your judgment—you can face DUI charges.

Police officers look for signs during a traffic stop. Slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, difficulty following instructions, or unsteady movements all contribute to their assessment. They might ask you to perform field sobriety tests:

• Walking in a straight line
• Standing on one leg
• Following a pen with your eyes

These tests help officers build their case that you were too impaired to drive safely.

The same rules apply if you're under the influence of drugs:

• Prescription medications
• Marijuana
• Other controlled substances

You can also be charged if you knowingly let someone else drive your vehicle while they're intoxicated.

Penalties for a First DUI in New Jersey

Jail Time and Fines

• For a first offense with a BAC between 0.08 and 0.10 percent, you face a fine between $250 and $400. You could also spend up to 30 days in jail, though jail time isn't mandatory at this level.
• If your BAC is 0.10 percent or higher but below 0.15 percent, the fine increases to $300 to $500. Jail time remains a possibility, up to 30 days.

These fines and jail time might seem manageable on paper. But they're just the beginning of what you'll actually pay.

License Suspension and Ignition Interlock Requirements

Your license gets suspended immediately. How long depends on your BAC level.

• With a BAC between 0.08 and 0.10 percent, you'll lose your license until you install an ignition interlock device in your vehicle. Once installed, you must keep it for three months.
• If your BAC is between 0.10 and 0.15 percent, the interlock requirement extends to seven months to one year.
• For a BAC of 0.15 percent or higher, you face a license suspension of four to six months, followed by an ignition interlock requirement of nine to fifteen months.

An ignition interlock device is a breathalyzer connected to your car's ignition system. Before starting your vehicle, you blow into the device. If it detects alcohol, your car won't start. You'll also need to provide random breath samples while driving. The device logs everything and reports violations.

You pay for installation, monthly monitoring fees, and eventual removal. These costs add up to hundreds of dollars beyond your court fines.

Insurance, DMV Surcharges, and Other Long-Term Costs

Your car insurance rates will spike. New Jersey requires an annual automobile insurance surcharge of $1,000 for three years. That's $3,000 total, paid in addition to your regular premium increases.

Then come the various fees and surcharges. A $100 surcharge goes to the Drunk Driving Enforcement Fund. You'll pay a Motor Vehicle Commission restoration fee of $100 and an Intoxicated Driving Program fee of $100. There's also a $50 Violent Crimes Compensation Fund fee and a $75 Safe and Secure Community Program fee.

You must attend the Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC) for a minimum of six hours a day for two consecutive days. The program costs money and requires time off work.

When you add everything together—fines, surcharges, increased insurance, ignition interlock costs, and IDRC fees—a first DUI easily costs several thousand dollars over the next few years.

Extra Penalties for Having a Minor in the Car

If you had a passenger under 17 years old in your vehicle when arrested, you face additional charges.

This counts as a disorderly persons offense. You could lose your license for up to six more months and perform community service for up to five days.

Courts take these cases especially seriously because they involve endangering a child.

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How Our New Jersey First Offense DUI Lawyer Can Fight Your Charges

Every DUI case is different. The specific circumstances of your arrest—where you were stopped, what the officer observed, how tests were conducted, and what evidence exists—all shape how we approach your defense.

We can't promise a specific outcome before reviewing your case. But we can tell you this: many DUI charges contain weaknesses.

Police procedures have strict requirements. Testing equipment needs proper maintenance. Officers must follow specific protocols. When something goes wrong in that chain, it opens opportunities to challenge the charges.

Here are some of the ways we examine DUI cases for our clients.

Challenging the Legality of the Traffic Stop

Police officers can't pull you over without reason.

They need reasonable suspicion that you've violated a traffic law or reasonable suspicion of DUI. If an officer stopped you without proper legal justification, any evidence gathered after that illegal stop can be suppressed.

Our New Jersey first offense DUI lawyer examines why the officer initiated the stop.

• Did you actually commit a traffic violation?
• Was there a legitimate reason to believe you were impaired?

Sometimes officers make assumptions or stretch their justification for a stop. Sometimes their dashboard camera footage contradicts their written report.

If the stop itself was illegal, the entire case can fall apart.

Contesting Field Sobriety Test Results

Field sobriety tests seem straightforward, but they're surprisingly unreliable.

The three standardized tests—horizontal gaze nystagmus, walk-and-turn, and one-leg stand—require specific administration.

Officers must give exact instructions, demonstrate properly, and score accurately. Many officers don't follow the standardized procedures correctly.

Your physical condition matters too.

• Do you have knee problems? Back issues? Inner ear disorders? Are you overweight?

All of these factors impact your ability to perform physical tests, and none of them have anything to do with alcohol impairment.

We review the specific conditions of your field sobriety tests. We look at how the officer administered them, what instructions were given, whether conditions were suitable, and whether your performance actually indicates impairment or something else entirely.

Disputing Breathalyzer (Alcotest) Accuracy and Maintenance Records

Breathalyzer machines require regular calibration and maintenance.

New Jersey uses the Alcotest device, and it must meet strict standards. If the device wasn't properly maintained, if calibration records are missing, or if the operator didn't follow correct procedures, the results become questionable.

We request maintenance and calibration records for the specific device used in your case. We examine when it was last serviced, whether it passed inspections, and if any issues were reported around the time of your arrest.

These technical defenses require detailed knowledge of how breathalyzer devices work and what New Jersey law requires. That's where our experience becomes valuable.

Your next step matters. The specific facts of your case determine which defenses apply and how strong they are.

Schedule a free consultation with us to discuss what happened during your arrest and learn how we can challenge the charges against you.

Why Choose Camili & Capo, PA for Your First DUI Defense?

Our founder, Krenar Camili, didn't come from a family of lawyers. He was the first to attend law school, and he had to figure out the legal world on his own. That experience taught him something important: when you're up against the system, you need someone who will fight as hard for you as they would for themselves.

He brought that mentality into criminal defense. When someone faces DUI charges, their entire future is on the line. Their job might be at risk. Their reputation takes a hit. They worry about supporting their family. Krenar believes that doing thorough, aggressive work defines what happens next for his clients.

Our other partner, Joseph Capo, shares that same commitment. He appears regularly in federal, state, and local courts throughout New Jersey, defending people's rights and fighting for outcomes they can live with. Both attorneys believe the same thing: everyone deserves a serious defense, no matter what they've been charged with.

Together, they bring more than 35 years of combined experience to every case.

But here's what really sets us apart: before establishing Camili & Capo, Krenar worked as an Assistant Prosecutor for over seven years.

He spent those years on the other side of DUI cases, learning exactly how prosecutors build their cases and what weaknesses they worry about. He tried controlled dangerous substance cases and other serious charges. He was recognized as one of the most successful Assistant Prosecutors in the county.

Before that, he served as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Raymond A. Reddin, J.S.C., of the Passaic County Superior Court. He learned how judges think, what matters to them, and how cases look from the bench.

That prosecution background means we know the other side's playbook. We understand their strategies, their priorities, and their vulnerabilities. We use that knowledge to build stronger defenses for our clients.

We know what judges care about during sentencing. We know how to negotiate effectively because we understand what prosecutors need and where they have room to compromise.

Talk to us about your case. Our New Jersey first offense DUI lawyer can review what happened, explain your options clearly, and show you how we can help.

Contact Our New Jersey First Offense DUI Lawyer at Camili & Capo, PA, Today for a Free Case Review

A DUI conviction doesn't just affect your driving privileges. It damages your reputation in your community. It strains your finances for years. The consequences ripple through every part of your life.

But a charge isn't a conviction. You have the right to fight these allegations, and you have options available right now.

The sooner you speak with an attorney, the better. Evidence gets preserved. Witnesses' memories stay fresh. We can begin building your defense immediately instead of scrambling later.

This is a stressful time. We understand that. Let our 1st offense DUI defense attorney in Totowa, NJ, handle the legal complexity while you focus on your life and your family.

For help from a first offense DUI lawyer in New Jersey, contact the Camili & Capo, PA, firm online or call today.