Highway Drug Arrests in New Jersey

Highway drug arrests in New Jersey can result in very serious penalties including fines, jail and reduced employment opportunities. New Jersey's Interstate 95 has become a popular drug trafficking highway whereby drugs travel north from Florida and money travels south from Maine. Increased drug activity has led NJ government officials to crack down on drug offenses with some of the most severe "mandatory minimum sentences" (MMS) for drug offenders in the country.
If you have been charged with drug use, possession or distribution while on New Jersey roads, know that you have the right to speak to an attorney before speaking to the police. The police have the legal right to lie in order to get a conviction. Discuss your case in private before divulging any information to the police.

A good drug defense attorney will determine if the police followed legal standards for "probable cause" in conducting the warrantless search and seizure. An attorney can cross-examine the police in determining why they pulled you over initially. Possible defenses include police violation of the two-pronged probable cause standard for New Jersey. Tainted evidence or violation of the "chain of custody" could also clear you of all charges. Find a good NJ drug defense attorney who will examine your case, defend your rights and protect you against legal prosecution.

The United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and New Jersey state drug interdiction programs are aimed at NJ roads attempting to catch drug couriers who are working for larger drug trafficking networks. Out-of-state drivers charged in New Jersey have increased hassles due to fines, possible jail time and multiple hearings that require travel expense. A drug conviction might also be reported to the home state. Opiates/cocaine and marijuana account for about 90% of New Jersey drug arrests.

Statistics show that anywhere from 30 to 40% of the New Jersey prison population have committed drug-related offenses - two-thirds of drug offenders in jail were serving MMS. Possession of under 1 ounce (28 grams) of marijuana might lead to a $1,000 fine and six months of jail time. New Jersey has some of the most severe penalties for minor drug offenses in the nation.