The Boonton Police Department has a strong commitment to the enforcement of Driving While Intoxicated (D.W.I.). In New Jersey, a person is guilty of drunk driving if he/she operates a motor vehicle with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or greater. BAC refers to the amount of alcohol in your blood. Although the law refers to a 0.08 percent BAC, you can be convicted of driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor even when your BAC is below 0.08 percent. The BAC threshold determining drunk driving was changed from 0.10 percent to 0.08 percent in early 2004. Consuming even small amounts of alcohol dulls the senses, decreases reaction time, and hampers judgement, vision and alertness. If you consume any amount of alcohol and your driving is affected, you can be convicted of drunk driving. The Boonton Police Department routinely has extra patrols, paid for by grant money, on the road every Friday & Saturday night aggressively looking for drunk drivers. Our Department's D.W.I. Coordinator is Ptl. Brian Walinski.

              

The Penalties for a D.W.I. Conviction:

1st Offense:

As per P.L. 2003, CHAPTER 314, two categories were created for first time offenders based on BAC levels. Parameters for the two categories and corresponding penalties are as follows: If the offender's BAC is 0.08 percent or higher but less than 0.10 percent, or if the offender permits another person with a BAC over 0.08 percent but less than 0.10 percent to operate a motor vehicle, the penalties are as follows:

     A fine of $250-$400*

     Imprisonment for up to 30 days*

     3 months license suspension*

     A minimum of 6 hours a day for 2 consecutive days in an Intoxicated Driver Resource Center

     An automobile insurance surcharge of $1,000 a year for 3 years.

If the offender's BAC is 0.10 percent or higher, or the person operates a motor vehicle while under the influence of a narcotic, hallucinogenic or habit-producing drug, or permits another person with a BAC of 0.10 percent to operate a motor vehicle, the penalties are as follows:

A fine of $300-$500*

     Imprisonment for up to 30 days*

     A license suspension between 7 months and 1 year*

     A minimum of 6 hours a day for 2 consecutive days in an Intoxicated Driver Resource Center

     An automobile insurance surcharge of $1,000 a year for 3 years

2nd Offense:

      A fine of $500-$1,000*

      Imprisonment of at least 48 consecutive hours, and up to 90 days*

      2 - year license suspension*

      48 consecutive hours detainment in a regional Intoxicated Driver Resource Center, at a charge of $100 a day

      An automobile insurance surcharge of $1,000 a year for 3 years

3rd Offense:

      A fine of $1,000*

      Imprisonment of 180 days*

      10 - year license suspension*

      Detainment in an in-patient alcoholism treatment program

      A fee to be paid to the Intoxicated Driver Resource Center dependent upon court sentence

      An automobile insurance surcharge of $1500 a year for 3 years

Any Offense Also Carries:

      $100 surcharge to be deposited in a drunk driving enforcement fund

      A Motor Vehicle Commission restoration fee of $50 and an Intoxicated Driving Program fee of $100

      A Violent Crimes Compensation Fund fee of $50

      A Safe and Secure Community Program fee of $75

 

*If occurring within a school zone or school crossing, this penalty is increased under Public Law 99, Chapter 185.