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Breath Test Refusal Attorney NJ

Breath Test Refusal Attorney in NJ

After an arrest for drunk driving, the arresting officer may ask you to submit to a breathalyzer test, which involves blowing into a machine that can detect alcohol on your breath and calculate your blood alcohol content (BAC). The breath test results can confirm whether your blood alcohol concentration was over the legal limit and whether you were driving under the influence of alcohol.

New Jersey’s implied consent laws require DUI arrestees to submit to chemical testing if requested. However, a driver can refuse the test. A

breath test refusal can carry harsh penalties on top of any sentence for a conviction for DWI or other offenses.

If the police have charged you with breath test refusal, you need experienced legal representation to help you understand your legal options and protect your rights. Contact the Law Office of Steven Ellman for a free case evaluation with a breath test refusal attorney. We can explain how our law firm can help you deal with the charges.

Understanding Breath Test Refusal

When a police officer pulls you over in New Jersey, you should stop your car in a safe place, turn off the engine, and put your hands on the steering wheel. Upon request, show the officer your driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance.

You have specific constitutional rights, such as the right to remain silent. If you wish to invoke that right, say so loudly and clearly. If you are not under arrest, you have the right to leave.

However, if a law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that you are driving under the influence of alcohol, the officer can arrest you on suspicion of DWI. After the police arrest you and take you to the police station, they will likely request that you submit to a breath or blood test.

Under New Jersey’s implied consent law, everyone who operates a motor vehicle on the state’s roads consents to a breath, urine, or blood test when requested by a police officer with probable cause. Those who refuse will have their driver’s license suspended.

Police officers cannot forcibly take a breath, urine, or blood sample from a person without a search warrant or another court order. However, a driver who refuses to submit to testing after a DWI arrest may face a breath test refusal charge on top of a DWI charge.

Keep in mind that the prosecutor’s office does not need breath test results to obtain a conviction. Prosecutors can rely on other evidence of a driver’s intoxication, such as police officer observations or witness testimony about the driver’s appearance or behavior.

Defending Against a Breath Test Refusal Charge

You might have a viable defense against a breath test refusal charge under certain circumstances. Potential defenses to a breath test refusal charge include:

The police lacked reasonable suspicion of a traffic or criminal violation to initiate the traffic stop.
The police lacked sufficient evidence to support probable cause to arrest you for DWI.
The arresting officer failed to read the entire statutorily required implied consent form.
You gave consent to the breath test, but the officer misinterpreted it as a refusal.

A knowledgeable DUI defense attorney can evaluate whether your constitutional rights were violated at any point. If so, your lawyer can build a defense based on the evidence.

Role of a Defense Attorney in Breath Test Refusal Cases

Although there are limited defenses to refusing a breathalyzer test, you should have an experienced defense attorney to represent you. A knowledgeable breath test refusal lawyer can investigate the traffic stop and the events leading up to the officer’s request for you to submit to a breath test.

If you are convicted of refusing a breathalyzer test, your attorney can negotiate with the prosecution for reduced penalties and avoid more severe penalties. For first-time breath test refusal convictions, the court may have some sentencing discretion. Based on the specific facts of the case, attorney Steven Ellman can argue for a lower fine, a shorter driver’s license suspension, or having the suspension run concurrently with any license suspension you receive for a DUI conviction.

An experienced breath test refusal attorney at the Law Office of Steven Ellman can review the facts of your case, advocate for your rights, and aggressively defend you against the most serious consequences of breathalyzer refusal.

Consequences of Breathalyzer Test Refusal in New Jersey

Because N.J. law requires drivers to submit to a breathalyzer test upon request following a DUI arrest, motorists who refuse the test may face penalties, including:

First offense: Fines of $300 to $500, referral to the Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC), a $100 payment to the Drunk Driving Enforcement Fund, and a driver’s license suspension of seven to 12 months concurrent or consecutive to any suspension for DWI
Second offense: Fines of $500 to $1,000, referral to the IDRC, a $100 payment to the Drunk Driving Enforcement Fund, and a two-year driver’s license suspension consecutive to any suspension for DWI
Third or subsequent offense: A $1,000 fine, referral to the IDRC, a $100 payment to the Drunk Driving Enforcement Fund, and a 10-year driver’s license suspension consecutive to any suspension for DWI

However, penalties for breathalyzer test refusal increase if a driver has a prior conviction is convicted of DUI in a New Jersey school zone:

First offense: Fines of $600 to $1,000, referral to the IDRC, a $100 payment to the Drunk Driving Enforcement Fund, and a one- to two-year driver’s license suspension concurrent or consecutive to any suspension for DWI
Second offense: Fines of $1,000 to $2,000, referral to the IDRC, a $100 payment to the Drunk Driving Enforcement Fund, and a four-year license suspension
Third or subsequent offense: A $2,000 fine, referral to the IDRC, a $100 payment to the Drunk Driving Enforcement Fund, and a 20-year license suspension

Contact a Breath Test Refusal Attorney in New Jersey Today

If you refuse to submit to a breathalyzer test following an arrest for drunk driving in Northern, Central, and Southern New Jersey, you need a knowledgeable breath test refusal attorney to protect your rights, reputation, and future. Attorney Steven Ellman has more than 39 years of experience handling DUI-related charges. He is committed to helping you seek the most positive outcome of your case possible under N.J. law. Contact the Law Office of Steven Ellman today for a free consultation.

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LEGALLY REVIEWED BY

Breath Test Refusal Attorney NJ

Hands down the best Attorney in South Jersey! I was charged with Careless Driving and DWI. I was broken and devastated. After reading his positive reviews, I chose Steven Ellman. He calmed my nerves and assured me that he would do his best. After months with the court, the DWI charge was dismissed and brought down to careless driving. He was a calming and confident presence in court and always explained the process well. I was represented better than I could have ever imagined. Highly recommended!

- CHRISTOPHER M.