On December 1, New Jersey introduced a new law governing penalties for drunk drivers.
About the Regulations
The new regulations limit suspensions for first time offenders with a BAC below .15%. Instead, these drivers must install in-car breathalyzers that prevent vehicles from moving if the driver has a BAC of .05% or more. This protocol is in place for three months until a year, depending on the specific case.
On Wednesday, Paul Frischer, 59, from Franklin Lakes was arrested and charged for allegedly hitting a pedestrian in Garfield with his SUV and leaving the scene of the accident.
As reported in the Bergen Record, Mr. Frischer was charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, endangering and injured victim, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash and failure to report a motor vehicle crash. The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office revealed that Mr. Frischer, a building superintendent, was charged in the hit and run accident on Monday that killed Giovanni Rivera, age 42. Mr. Rivera was hit at approximately 7:00 p.m. om Monday evening and was left lying in the street on MacArthur Ave. in Garfield. He passed away at Hackensack University Medical Center on Wednesday morning. The accident occurred near a special needs group home in Garfield. A funeral is scheduled on Saturday in North Bergen.
Read more: Criminal and Traffic Defense Bergen County
About 6 million of the 7 million cases that are heard each year in New Jersey courts are filed in Municipal Court. As the name would imply, these courts have limited jurisdiction; they usually involve violations that occurred within that municipality.
Classification of Crimes in New Jersey
You have probably heard the terms “felony” and “misdemeanor” when discussing serious and less serious crimes. In New Jersey, however, crimes are classified differently. More serious crimes are classified as indictable crimes; less serious crimes are called disorderly person offenses; and the least serious are called petty disorderly person offenses.
On April 18, 2016, the law signed by Governor Christie in January went into effect. It amends New Jersey’s Expungement Law, making it easier for nonviolent ex-offenders to clear their records.
Definition of Expungement
“Expungement” is defined in New Jersey law as “the extraction and isolation of all records on file…within the criminal justice system.” In simpler terms, it means that the offense is treated for the most part as if it never happened. Even more importantly, you are legally allowed to state that the arrest or conviction never took place.
New Jersey Lawyer Blog