Kenneth Vercammen is a Middlesex County Trial Attorney who has published 130 articles in national and New Jersey publications on Criminal Law, Probate, Estate and litigation topics.

He was awarded the NJ State State Bar Municipal Court Practitioner of the Year.

He lectures and handles criminal cases, Municipal Court, DWI, traffic and other litigation matters.

To schedule a confidential consultation, call us or New clients email us evenings and weekends via contact box www.njlaws.com.

Kenneth Vercammen & Associates, P.C,

2053 Woodbridge Avenue,

Edison, NJ 08817,

(732) 572-0500

Monday, June 20, 2011

Driving While Suspended New Fines & Jail-New articles, ABA newsletters and Community events

Driving While Suspended New Fines & Jail

Driving While Suspended Fines and Jail 39:3-40

Offense 39:3-40 driving while license suspended- general provision 1st Offense - $500 fine, and - drivers license suspension not to exceed 6 months -9 car insurance eligibility points for each violation $750 DMV surcharges

2nd Offense - $750 fine, and - drivers license suspension not to exceed 6 months, and - imprisonment 1- 5 days, -9 car insurance eligibility points for each violation $750 DMV surcharges and - if 2nd offense occurs within 5 years of a conviction for N.J.S.A. 39:3-40, then revocation of registration certificate for the period drivers license is suspended (see N.J.S.A. 39:3-40.1)

3rd or Subsequent Offense - $1000 fine, and - drivers license suspension not to exceed 6 months, and - imprisonment for 10 days, -9 car insurance eligibility points for each violation $750 DMV surcharges and - if 3rd offense occurs within 5 years of a conviction of N.J.S.A. 39:3-40, then revocation of registration certificate for the period drivers license is suspended (see N.J.S.A. 39:3-40.1)

Note: For all offenses under this statute that involve an accident resulting in personal injury to another, the court is required to impose a period of imprisonment for not less than 45 days, or more than 180 days. N.J.S.A. 39:3-40(e). If the accident results in the death of another person, then the defendant shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree and the defendants drivers license shall be suspended for an additional period of one year. If the accident results in serious bodily injury to another person, then the defendant shall be guilty of a crime of the fourth degree and the defendants drivers license shall be suspended for an additional period of one year.

Offense 39:3-40 (f) (1) [no insurance suspensions] driving while license suspended due to conviction for N.J.S.A. 39:6B-2 (driving without insurance) 1st Offense - $1000 fine, and - drivers license suspension not less than 12 months, nor more than 30 months, and - may impose incarceration not to exceed 90 days $750 DMV surcharges -9 car insurance eligibility points for each violation

2nd Offense - $1250 fine, and - drivers license suspension of not less than 12 months nor more than 30 months, and - may impose period of incarceration of not more than 90 days, $750 DMV surcharges -9 car insurance eligibility points for each violation and - if 2nd offense occurs within 5 years of a conviction for 39:3-40, then revocation of registration certificate for period drivers license is suspended (see N.J.S.A. 39:3-40.1)

3rd or Subsequent Offense - $1500 fine, and - drivers license suspension of not less than 12 months nor more than 30 months, and - incarceration of not less than 10 days, nor more than 90 days, $750 DMV surcharges -9 car insurance eligibility points for each violation and - if 3rd offense occurs within 5 years of a conviction of N.J.S.A. 39:3-40, then revocation of registration certificate for the period drivers license is suspended (see N.J.S.A. 39:3-40.1) Note: The fines and penalties set forth in N.J.S.A. 39:3-40(f)(1)-(3) are imposed "notwithstanding" the general penalty provisions listed above. This chart is based on the assumption that the fines and penalties set forth in N.J.S.A. 39:3-40(f)(1)-(3) are in addition to those found in N.J.S.A. 39:3-40(a)-(e). This reading of the statute is suggested by State v. Wrotny, 221 N.J. Super. 226, 228-30 (App. Div. 1987), though Wrotny does not explicitly hold as much. For a contrary reading of N.J.S.A. 39:3-40(f)(1)-(3), see State v. Walsh, 236 N.J. Super. 151, 155 (Law Div. 1989), and State v. Rought, 221 N.J. Super. 42, 47 (Law Div. 1987), which both held that the fines and penalties of N.J.S.A. 39:3-40(f)(1)-(3) are a substitute for those provided by N.J.S.A. 39:3-40(a)-(e). Before imposing sentence for a conviction under N.J.S.A. 39:3-40(f)(1)-(3), please consult these cases and any other relevant cases decided after the date of this chart.

Offense 39:3-40 (f) (2) [DWI suspensions] driving while license suspended due to conviction for: - 39:4-50 (driving while intoxicated), or - 39:4-50.4a (refusal to submit to chemical test), or - 39:5-30a to -30e (habitual offender) 1st Offense - $1000 fine, and -drivers license suspension of not less than 12 months, nor more than 30 months, and -incarceration of not less than 10 days, nor more than 90 days, and -revocation of registration certificate for the period drivers license is suspended (see N.J.S.A. 39:3-40.1) $750 DMV surcharges -9 car insurance eligibility points for each violation

2nd Offense -$1250 fine, and - drivers license suspension for not less than 12 months, nor more than 30 months, and - incarceration of not less than 10 days, nor more than 90 days, and - revocation of registration certificate for the period drivers license is suspended (see N.J.S.A. 39:3-40.1) $750 DMV surcharges -9 car insurance eligibility points for each violation

3rd or Subsequent Offense - $1500 fine, and - drivers license suspension for not less than 12 months, nor more than 30 months, and - incarceration of not less than 10 days, nor more than 90 days, and - revocation of registration certificate for the period drivers license is suspended (see N.J.S.A. 39:3-40.1) $750 DMV surcharges -9 car insurance eligibility points for each violation

Note: The fines and penalties set forth in N.J.S.A. 39:3-40(f)(1)-(3) are imposed "notwithstanding" the general penalty provisions listed above. This chart is based on the assumption that the fines and penalties set forth in N.J.S.A. 39:3-40(f)(1)-(3) are in addition to those found in N.J.S.A. 39:3-40(a)-(e). This reading of the statute is suggested by State v. Wrotny, 221 N.J. Super. 226, 228-30 (App. Div. 1987), though Wrotny does not explicitly hold as much. For a contrary reading of N.J.S.A. 39:3-40(f)(1)-(30), see State v. Walsh, 236 N.J. Super. 151, 155 (Law Div. 1989), and State v. Rought, 221 N.J. Super. 42, 47 (Law Div. 1987), which both held that the fines and penalties of N.J.S.A. 39:3-40(f)(1)-(3) are a substitute for those provided by N.J.S.A. 39:3-40(a)-(e). Before imposing sentence for a conviction under N.J.S.A. 39:3-40(f)(1)-(3), please consult these cases and any other relevant cases decided after the date of this chart.

Offense 39:3-40 (f) (3) [School Zone suspensions] driving while license suspended due to conviction for N.J.S.A. 39:4-50 or 39:4-50.4a, while driving in a school zone, or driving through a school crossing 1st Offense - $1000 fine, and - drivers license suspension for not less than 12 months, nor more than 30 months, and - incarceration of not less than 60 days nor more than 90 days $750 DMV surcharges -9 car insurance eligibility points for each violation

2nd Offense - $1250 fine, and - drivers license suspension for not less than 12 months, nor more than 30 months, and - incarceration of not less than 120 days nor more than 150 days - if 2nd offense occurs within 5 years of a conviction for N.J.S.A. 39:3-40, then revocation of registration certificate for the period drivers license is suspended (see N.J.S.A. 39:3-40.1) $750 DMV surcharges -9 car insurance eligibility points for each violation

3rd or Subsequent Offense - $1500 fine, and - drivers license suspension for not less than 12 months, nor more than 24 months, plus may impose additional suspension not to exceed 6 months - incarceration for 180 days, and - if 3rd offense occurs within 5 years of a conviction of N.J.S.A. 39:3-40, then revocation of violators registration certificate for the period drivers license is suspended (see N.J.S.A. 39:3-40.1) Note: The fines and penalties set forth in N.J.S.A. 39:3-40(f)(1)-(3) are imposed "notwithstanding" the general penalty provisions listed above. This chart is based on the assumption that the fines and penalties set forth in N.J.S.A. 39:3-40(f)(1)-(3) are in addition to those found in N.J.S.A. 39:3-40(a)-(e). This reading of the statute is suggested by State v. Wrotny, 221 N.J. Super. 226, 228-30 (App. Div. 1987), though Wrotny does not explicitly hold as much. For a contrary reading of N.J.S.A. 39:3-40(f)(1)-(3), see State v. Walsh, 236 N.J. Super. 151, 155 (Law Div. 1989), and State v. Rought, 221 N.J. Super. 42, 47 (Law Div. 1987), which both held that the fines and penalties of N.J.S.A. 39:3-40(f)(1)-(3) are a substitute for those provided by N.J.S.A. 39:3-40(a)-(e). Before imposing sentence for a conviction under N.J.S.A. 39:3-40(f)(1)-(3), please consult these cases and any other relevant cases decided after the date of this chart.

Offense 39:3-40 (g) [Surcharge Suspensions] driving while license suspended for failure to pay surcharges under N.J.S.A. 17:29A-35 1st Offense - $500 fine, and - drivers license suspension not to exceed 6 months, and - $3000 fine to be collected by DMV. Fine to be waived upon payment of total surcharge imposed -9 car insurance eligibility points for each violation

2nd Offense - $750 fine, and - drivers license suspension not to exceed 6 months, and - imprisonment not more than 5 days, and - $3000 fine to be collected by DMV. Fine to be waived upon payment of total surcharge imposed, $750 DMV surcharges -9 car insurance eligibility points for each violation and

- if 2nd offense occurs within 5 years of a conviction for N.J.S.A. 39:3-40, then revocation of registration certificate for the period drivers license is suspended (see N.J.S.A. 39:3-40.1)

3rd or Subsequent Offense - $1000 fine, and - drivers license suspension not to exceed 6 months, and - imprisonment for 10 days, and - $3000 fine to be collected by DMV. Fine to be waived upon payment of total surcharge imposed $750 DMV surcharges -9 car insurance eligibility points for each violation

- if 3rd offense occurs within 5 years of a conviction of N.J.S.A. 39:3-40, then revocation of registration certificate for the period drivers license is suspended (see N.J.S.A. 39:3-40.1)

Speak with an experienced attorney to determine possible rights, defenses and mitigating factors.