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There are a number of ways to defend against a New Jersey DWI/DUI charge.  Here is a list of some of the best DWI Defense tactics put together by New Jersey DWI attorney Evan Levow.  Not all of these will apply to every case.  This is simply a list of some of the defenses to a New Jersey DWI charge.

At Least 23 WAYS TO CHALLENGE A NEW JERSEY DWI

1)  Standardized Field Sobriety Tests are Not Reliable Evidence of Intoxication - In healthy persons, the one-leg stand test is only 65% accurate in predicting someone to be over the legal limit of 0.08% BAC.  When I went to school that was a D!  And the walk-and-turn test is only 68% accurate.  Persons with injuries, medical conditions, 50 pounds or greater overweight, and 65 years or older cannot be validly judged by field sobriety tests.  The eye test is not admissible in NJ courts to prove that you were intoxicated. 

2)  Non-Standard Field Sobriety Tests are not much better than flipping a coin to see if you are under the influence.  Neither the Federal Government (NHTSA) or medical science consider touching your finger to your nose,  saying the alphabet, or counting backwards as valid tests to determine intoxication. 

3)  Illegal Stop a New Jersey DWI Enforcement officer cannot stop a car without having a reasonable and articulate basis to believe that a law has been violated, or he can articulate unusual operation of the motor vehicle. Therefore if the officer stops the car just because he saw the driver walk out of a bar and get into the car, the New Jersey DWI charge may be dismissed based on a violation of the driver's rights.

4)  Videos or Dispatch Tapes All New Jersey State Troopers, and many other New Jersey DWI enforcement officers have video cameras in their patrol vehicles.  These videos, along with videos from testing rooms, booking rooms, and other sources can be good defenses to some New Jersey DWI charges.  These videos can show that the field sobriety tests are not as bad as the officer interpreted them.  We have seen tapes that showed the driver's speech was not muttered, slurred, or incoherent, their balance was not swaying or stumbling, and their attitude was not combative or uncooperative.  These are areas where a qualified New Jersey DWI attorney can show that the officer has a bias towards the driver and is not accurately testifying about the driver's clues of intoxication.  Most vehicle stops are audibly recorded on dispatch tapes.  

5) Breath Test Operator Unlicensed A NJ Breath Test Operator must possess a valid operator's license, or the breath test is inadmissible.

6) Breath Test Operator License Expired An NJ Breath Test Operator must possess an unexpired operator's license or the breath test result is inadmissible.  Licenses automatically expire in 3 years.

7) Breathalyzer Machine Malfunctions If there is a malfunction or repair of the breath test machine, your test results may not be accurate.  If the prosecutor can't show that all the proper procedures were followed with the machine, then the results of the testing might not be admitted into evidence. 

8) Breathalyzer Machine Not Properly Operated There are specified protocols which must be followed for a breath test to be valid.  Failure to follow these protocols can result in improper readings, and may be a reason to exclude the readings in court.

9 Medical and Health Problems Medical problems with legs, arms, neck, back and eyes can affect the results of field sobriety tests.  (Other medical conditions can affect the validity of breath test results.)

10) Bad Weather Weather Reports establishing low visibility, high winds, and other conditions can be used to explain poor driving or balance on the field sobriety tests.

11) The Officer's Prior Record and Statements - A police officer's previous disciplinary record can be used to challenge the officer's credibility; especially if the officer has been disciplined for misrepresentation or violating the rights of a driver.  Furthermore, if the officer has previously testified in a New Jersey DWI case about the reliability of tests or how to administer them, that prior testimony can be used to challenge the officer's skills at administering field sobriety tests if he answers differently from trial to trial.  Also, if the officer misled the driver about the consequences of refusing to submit to tests under New Jersey DWI law then the results of the refusal, or the readings from the machine may be excluded in court.

12) Failure to Conduct Observation Period -   If the police fail to keep you under observation for 20 minutes prior to the breath testing, the results of the testing may be excluded in court.  

13)  Independent Witnesses Sometimes witnesses to accidents, bartenders, hospital personnel and others can provide crucial evidence of the defendant's sobriety. 

14)  Failure to Read the Implied Consent Warning - The New Jersey DWI enforcement officer must read the driver New Jersey Implied Consent law before the driver submits to the breath test.  The failure to read the form or failure to read the correct form may result in the dismissal of charges.

15) Errors with the new Alcotest 7110 MK111-C machine .  There are many potential errors that may occur with the new Alcotest 7110 MK111-C machine such as:  failure to input correct arrest information; improper machine settings;  failure of the machine to recognize errors in testing;   failure of the machine on timing issues during the testing.   

 16) Interfering Substances - False breath test results may be caused by many items such as asthma spray, cough drops, paints, or fingernail polish, which contain forms of alcohol.  Chemicals that you work with or use may cause a false positive result on the breath tests.

 17) Failure to Provide a Speedy Trial - The State must provide a trial within specified time periods.  If they don't, the case may be dismissed.  Guidelines require that DWI cases be resolved within 60 days of the date of the arrest.

18) Expert Witness Expert Witnesses are available to review the validity of the breath test, blood test, and field sobriety tests.  Almost all cases require the assistance of these experts.

19)   Blood Test Inaccurate The admissibility of blood testing in a New Jersey DWI case depends on the procedures used in the taking of the sample.  Sometimes, police blood testing fails to follow the prescribed rules of testing, analysis, and preservation.  Medical centers that take these samples, sometimes fail to follow proper protocol as well.  Even if they say the prep swab is non-alcoholic, there can be some trace of alcohol in the swab which can subject samples to a possible Motion to Exclude.  Hospital tests have been shown to overestimate a blood sample by as much as 25% in healthy, uninjured individuals, and are not statistically reliable in severely injured persons.  When hospital staff use lactate ringers during the treatment of a patient, the hospital blood serum results can report falsely elevated readings.

20)   Failure to Provide Complete Discovery If the prosecutor has not provided all the required evidence, a motion to compel evidence must be filed.  If the discovery is still not provided by the date ordered by the judge, then charges may be dismissed. 

21)  Drug Based DWIs / Drug Recognition Evaluation (DRE) If your blood pressure and temperature were taken, and you were caused to perform additional physical tests in the police station, you went through DRE protocol.  This protocol has not been proven reliable in New Jersey court.

22)  You cannot be forced to give blood or urine .  If you were forced to do so, results can be excluded in court.

23)  If you refuse to give blood or urine , you cannot be charged with refusal; as refusal applies to breath testing only, in NJ.   

 CALL 1-800-DIAL-DWI NOW TO DISCUSS NJ YOUR NJ DWI DRUNK DRIVING CASE WITH NEW JERSEY DWI ATTORNEY EVAN LEVOW OR CLICK HERE FOR FREE CASE REVIEW