Under New Jersey’s DWI law, harsher penalties will be imposed if a DWI offense occurs while in a school zone.
DWI in a school zone is defined as:
(1) on any school property used for school purposes which is owned by or leased to any elementary or secondary school or school board, or within 1,000 feet of such school property;
(2) driving through a school crossing if the municipality, by ordinance or resolution, has designated the school crossing as such; or
(3) driving through a school crossing knowing that juveniles are present if the municipality has not designated the school crossing as such by ordinance or resolution.
You can be convicted of DWI in a school zone in NJ with these increased penalties are even if you had no knowledge that you were passing through a school zone, if school was not in session, or if no juveniles were present at the time of the offense.
If convicted of DWI in a school zone in New Jersey for a first offense, you face $500 to $800 in fines, up to 60 days in jail, and suspension of your driver’s license for a period of one to two years. If convicted of DWI in a school zone for a second offense, you face $1,000 to $2,000 in fines, mandatory minimum 96 hours up to 180 days in jail, suspension of your driver’s license for a period of four years, and 60 days community service.
If convicted of DWI in a school zone for a third offense, you face $2,000 in fines, 180 days in county jail or workhouse (up to 90 days may be spent in drug/alcohol treatment program if court allows), and suspension of your driver’s license for a period of 20 years. In order to impose these increased penalties in NJ, the prior convictions must have been school zone convictions as well.
