Charges Filed
On January 9, Andre T. Cochran, 20, a resident of Philadelphia Avenue, was stopped by police. Police determined that Cochran had been drinking and was intoxicated. Not only was he charged with driving while intoxicated and underage drinking, police also charged him with careless and reckless driving, using a cell phone while driving a motor vehicle as well as driving with an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle.
Fines and Jail Time
If Cochran is convicted of the driving while intoxicated charge, he could face up to 30 days in jail, fines ranging from $250 to $500, a license that is suspended from three months to one year and could be required to have an ignition interlock device installed on his vehicle. Conviction on the underage drinking charge could result in a fine of $500 and could even result in six months in jail. If convicted of reckless driving, Cochran could face a fine of up to $200 or up to 60 days in jail, while the careless driving charge may bring fines of between $80 and $200. Using a cell phone while driving in New Jersey could bring a fine of between $200 and $400, while an open container of alcohol could bring a fine of $200. Overall, Cochran could be facing fines of up to $2,000, a one-year license suspension and eight months in jail. If he is required to install the ignition interlock device, he will do so at his own expense.
New Jersey Drunk Driving Statistics
According to Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD), there were 146 traffic deaths related to impaired driving in 2014, which represents almost 27 percent of all traffic fatalities in the state. Over the past five years, almost 30 percent of people aged 12 to 20 admitted to using alcohol in the month before they were surveyed and almost 19 percent admitted to binge drinking. In New Jersey, there are laws that allow a social host to be charged if they furnish alcohol to someone under the age of 21. The law also allows for a judge to require a convicted drunk driver to install an ignition interlock device for a period of time after their conviction. There are also additional laws if a child passenger is in the vehicle with a drink driver. Establishments that serve alcohol to obviously impaired drivers may also be held responsible in a drunk driving accident.
If you plan to be out celebrating with friends or family, it is critical to arrange for a designated driver so that everyone arrives home safely. If you cannot arrange for a designated driver, contact Taxi and Car Services so you can avoid driving after drinking. You can arrange for transportation by calling 732-350-8294 or visiting us online in order to keep from getting behind the wheel after drinking.
Source:
Patch