Whether you are speeding, texting while driving, or otherwise, New Jersey law enforcement cracks down on traffic violations. Such violations may lead to hefty fines, points on your driving record, and even a driver’s license suspension. Follow along to find out the penalties for different traffic violations and how a proficient Morristown traffic violation lawyer at Graves Andrews, LLC can come to your defense.
What are the penalties for reckless driving traffic violations?
If a law enforcement officer pulls you over for reckless driving, this means they believe that you were operating your motor vehicle with an intentional disregard for the safety of others on the New Jersey roads. So with this comes severe penalties, and they read as follows:
- First offense:
- Jail time of up to 60 days.
- Fines of up to $200.
- Five points on your driving record.
- Second offense:
- Jail time of up to three months.
- Fines of up to $500.
- Five points on your driving record.
More specifically, speeding may be considered a form of reckless driving. This comes with its own set of penalties, and they read as follows:
- One to 14 miles per hour over the enforced speed limit: two points on your driving record.
- Fifteen to 30 miles per hour over the enforced speed limit: four points on your driving record.
- Thirty miles per hour or more over the enforced speed limit: five points on your driving record.
What are the penalties for distracted driving?
Using a handheld device to text while driving is one of the most common forms of distracted driving seen on the New Jersey roads. In fact, approximately 25 percent of auto accidents in the state of New Jersey have been associated with texting while driving. And so, this offense is taken seriously, and the potential penalties read as follows:
- First offense: fines of $200 to $400.
- Second offense: fines of $400 to $600.
- Third offense: fines of $600 to $800, three points on your driving record, and a driver’s license suspension for 90 days.
Regardless of which offense you have been accused of, accumulating more than 12 points on your driving record can ultimately lead to a driver’s license suspension. This is not to mention the inevitable spike in your insurance premiums.
Contrary to what you may believe, it may be rather difficult to defend your traffic violation and make the consequences disappear. However, if you truly believe that your traffic ticket should be dropped, then you must retain the services of a talented Morristown criminal defense lawyer. We will use any and all relevant legal defenses to support your claim, so give us a call today.
