<h1 style="font-size: 18pt; text-align: center;"><span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Traffic Ticket Defense</strong></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><br /></strong></span></span></h1>
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<p style="text-align: justify;"><img style="margin-right: 20px; float: left;" src="images/mymedia/traffic_ticket_in_nj.jpg" alt="traffic ticket in nj" width="200" height="133" /><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Defending NJ Traffic Tickets since 1996</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #333333;">Joseph F. Morgano defends traffic tickets in all New Jersey municipal courts. If you were issued a traffic ticket, for a motor vehicle offense, we may be able to get your points reduced or eliminated. Points on your NJ driver's license may result in higher insurance rates and loss of license.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">What are your options</span></strong></span><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">?</span></strong></em></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Assuming no court appearance is required, you will have the option to either pay the ticket or appear in court to dispute it.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>What to expect in Court</strong></span><strong>?</strong></em>&nbsp; </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">If you decide to go to court and plead not guilty, you will be given the opportunity to speak to the prosecutor about your case.&nbsp; If negotiations with the prosecutor fail, you will be given the opportunity to appear before the judge and have a trial. If you choose to have an attorney represent you, it will likely improve your chances of getting the <span style="color: #333333;">points</span> reduced or completely eliminated.&nbsp; Initially, your attorney will discuss the case with the prosecutor, which typically results in an offer to plead guilty to a lower charge. The result is usually a reduction or elimination of <span style="color: #333333;">points</span> on your NJ driver's license.&nbsp; Another benefit of having an attorney is that the process will go much smoother and faster.&nbsp; Without an attorney, you will probably be in court for hours, depending on the caseload of that particular court.&nbsp; An attorney will get you through the process much faster. This is because the court handles the attorney-cases first. The reason for this is because the NJ Supreme Court has instructed the municipal courts to handle all attorney-cases first. Although it may be tempting to pay your traffic ticket without appearing in court, there are benefits to hiring an attorney to defend your case.<span style="color: #3366ff;"><a style="color: #3366ff;" title="NJ Point Schedule for NJ Traffic Tickets" href="nj-statutes/15-point-schedule-for-nj-tickets" rel="alternate"><br /></a></span></span></p>
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<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Common NJ Traffic Tickets</strong></span></em></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Careless Driving</span></strong> (<span><strong>NJ Statute: 39:4-97</strong></span>) <span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong>2 Points</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #0000ff;"></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Reckless Driving</span></strong> (<span><strong>NJ Statute: 39:4-96</strong></span>) <span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong>5 Points</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #0000ff;"></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Failure to Observe Traffic Signal</span></strong> (<strong><span>NJ Statute: 39:4-81</span></strong>) <span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong>2 Points</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #0000ff;"></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Failure to Stop for Traffic Light</span></strong> (<span><strong>NJ Statute: 39:4-105</strong></span>) <span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong>2 Points</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #0000ff;"></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Failure to Observe Stop or Yield Signs</span></strong> (<strong><span>NJ Statute: 39:4-144</span></strong>) <span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong>2 Points</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #0000ff;"></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Improper U-Turn</span></strong> (<span><strong>NJ Statute: 39:4-125</strong></span>) <span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong>3 Points</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #0000ff;"></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Improper Right or Left Turn</span></strong> (<strong><span>NJ Statute: 39:4-123</span></strong>) <span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong>3 Points</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #0000ff;"></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Improper Turn at Traffic Light</span></strong> (<strong><span>NJ Statute: 39:4-115</span></strong>) <span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong>3 Points</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #0000ff;"></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Failure to Observe Traffic Lanes</span></strong> (<span><strong>NJ Statute: 39:4-88</strong></span>) <span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong>2 Points</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #0000ff;"></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Improper Passing in No Passing Zone</span></strong> (<strong><span>NJ Statute: 39:4-86</span></strong>) <span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong>4 Points</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #0000ff;"></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Speeding</span></strong> (<span><strong>NJ Statute: 39:4-98</strong></span>)</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">1-14 mph over the limit, <span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong>2 Points</strong></span>;</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">15-29 mph over the limit, <span style="color: #0000ff;"><strong>4 Points</strong></span>;</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">30 mph or more over the limit, <span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong><span style="color: #0000ff;">5 Points</span><span style="color: #000000;">.</span></strong> </span> </span></p>
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<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Driving While Suspended</strong></span></em>&nbsp;<strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;">(</span></strong><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #000000;">NJ Statute: 39:3-40</span><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;">)</span></strong></span> </span></h2>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span> </em> </span> </span><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>First Offense</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">$500.00 Fine; Up to 6 Months Loss of License; $750.00 DMV Surcharge; and 9 Insurance Points.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Second Offense</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">$750.00 Fine; Up to 6 Months Loss of License; $750.00 DMV Surcharge; Jail 1 to 5 days; and 9 Insurance Points.&nbsp; If 2nd offense is within 5 years of the prior offense, than revocation of registration for duration of license suspension.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Third Offense</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">$1,000.00 Fine; Up to 6 Months Loss of License; $750.00 DMV Surcharge; Jail 10 days; and 9 Insurance Points. &nbsp;If 3rd offense is within 5 years of the prior offense, than revocation of registration for duration of license suspension.</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Accident Inolved With Personal Injury</span></strong> </span><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></strong></h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">45 to 180 days in jail if there is an accident involved which results in personal injury.</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Accident Inolved With Serious Personal Injury</span></strong> </span><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></strong></h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">If there is an accident involved which results in serious personal injury, than it will be treated as a fouth degree crime (<span style="color: #3366ff;"><a style="color: #3366ff;" href="practice-areas/26-criminal-defense">See Criminal Defense</a></span>).&nbsp; There will also be an additional 1 year loss of license.</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Accident Inolved Where Death Results</span></strong> </span><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></strong></h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">If there is an accident involved which results in death, than it will be treated as a third degree crime <span style="font-size: 12pt;">(<span style="color: #3366ff;"><a style="color: #3366ff;" href="practice-areas/26-criminal-defense">See Criminal Defense</a></span>)</span>.&nbsp; There will also be an additional 1 year loss of license.</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;">If Suspension Was Due to Driving Without Insurance</span></strong> </span><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></strong></h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">If the reason a defendant was on the suspended list was due to driving without insurance, than a $500.00 fine; loss of license for 1 to 2 years; and jail up to 90 days.</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;">If Suspension Was Due to DWI</span></strong> </span><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></strong></h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">If the reason a defendant was on the suspended list was due to a DWI, than a $500.00 fine; loss of license for 1 to 2 years; and jail for 10 to 90 days.</span></p>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;">If Suspension Was Due to DWI Within a School Zone</span></strong> </span><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></strong></h3>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">If the reason a defendant was on the suspended list was due to a DWI, and is within a school zone, than a $500.00 fine; loss of license for 1 to 2 years; jail for 60 to 90 days for a first offense; jail for 120 to 150 days for a second offense; and jail for 180 days for a third offense.</span></p>
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<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Driving Without Insurance</strong></span></em>&nbsp;<strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;">(</span></strong><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #000000;">NJ Statute: 39:6B-2</span><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;">)</span></strong></span> </span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span> </em> </span> </span><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>First Offense</strong></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><br /></strong></span></h2>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">$300.00 to $500.00 Fine; 1 year Loss of License; $250.00 per year, for 3 years, DMV Surcharge; and community service for a period to be determined by the court.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Second Offense</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">$5,000.00 Fine; 2 years Loss of License; $250.00 per year, for 3 years, DMV Surcharge; community service for 30 days; and 14 days in jail.</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">If you were issued a </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">traffic ticket in NJ, contact us for a free consultation.</span></p>
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