JOHN MENZEL, J.D.
 and the Law Firm of John Menzel
 ________________________________________________________________________

HOW TO DEFEND YOURSELF ON A SIMPLE TRAFFIC TICKET IN NEW JERSEY’S MUNICIPAL COURTS

John Menzel, J.D. defends people charged with drunk driving and related offenses in New Jersey.  John Menzel, J.D., has concentrated his practice in drunk driving defense since 1988.

Most traffic offenses are fairly simple to defend by way of plea bargaining in the municipal court.  Indeed, the fines and costs you may suffer are usually less that the legal fee associated with hiring a lawyer to defend you.  Therefore, it is often more cost-effective to do it yourself.  To learn how, click on these topics:

KNOWING WHEN YOU CAN DEFEND YOURSELF

·         What Is a Simple Traffic Ticket?

·         What Is NOT a Simple Traffic Ticket?

KNOWING HOW TO DEFEND YOURSELF

·         Call the Court

·         Write the Court

·         Plea Bargaining with the Prosecutor

·         Protect Yourself from Civil Suits

·         If No Deals, Hire a Lawyer

CONTACT A LAWYER

DISCLAIMER

KNOWING WHEN YOU CAN DEFEND YOURSELF

What Is a Simple Traffic Ticket?

Consider defending yourself in the municipal court if you are charged with a simple traffic offense.  These are statutes often considered “simple traffic tickets:

·         N.J. Statutes 39:4-82                 Failure to keep right

·         N.J. Statutes 39:4-85                 Improper passing

·         N.J. Statutes 39:4-86                 Passing in a no-passing zone

·         N.J. Statutes 39:4-88                 Failure to maintain lane

·         N.J. Statutes 39:4-88                 Following too closely

·         N.J. Statutes 39:4-91                 Failure to yield to an emergency vehicle

·         N.J. Statutes 39:4-97                Careless driving

·         N.J. Statutes 39:4-98                Speeding

·         N.J. Statutes 39:4-125               Improper U-turn

·         N.J. Statutes 39:4-126               Failure to signal turn

·         N.J. Statutes 39:4-127               Improper backing

·         N.J. Statutes 39:4-128.1           Passing a school bus

·         N.J. Statutes 39:4-144               Failure to stop or yield

What Is NOT a Simple Traffic Ticket?

The following traffic offenses are very serious, often leading to large fines, revocation of driving privileges, and jail.  Don’t even think of representing yourself!  Always get a lawyer for these offenses:

·         N.J. Statutes 39:3-40                 Driving with a suspended or revoked license

·         N.J. Statutes 39:4-50                 Drunk driving

·         N.J. Statutes 39:4-50.2 or -50.4a            Breath test refusal

·         N.J. Statutes 39:4-96                 Reckless driving

·         N.J. Statutes 39:4-129               Leaving the scene of an accident

·         N.J. Statutes 39:6B-2                Driving an uninsured vehicle

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KNOWING HOW TO DEFEND YOURSELF

·         Call the Court

·         Write the Court

·         Plea Bargaining with the Prosecutor

·         Protect Yourself from Civil Suits

·         If No Deals, Hire a Lawyer

CONTACT A LAWYER

DISCLAIMER

KNOWING HOW TO DEFEND YOURSELF

Call the Court.  If you have a simple traffic ticket, call the municipal court before the court date at bottom of ticket.  Tell the person taking your call that you are pleading NOT GUILTY and ask when the next court date will be.  Get the name of the person you speak to.

Write the Court.  Confirm your not guilty plea and court date information in a short letter to that person referencing your ticket by the number in the upper left corner of the ticket.

Plea Bargain with the Prosecutor.  Appear in court on court date and ask prosecutor for one of these plea bargains.  They are listed here in order of preference.  Expect to pay up to a $200 fine and $30 court costs.

·         N.J. Statutes 39:4-56                 Delaying traffic                                                 0 points

·         N.J. Statutes 39:4-67                 Obstructing or interfering with traffic              0 points

·         N.J. Statutes 39:4-97.1              Unsafe driving                                                  0 points

F     (NOTE:  If you receive a third conviction for unsafe driving within five years of a second unsafe driving offense, the third conviction will carry 4 points.)

·         N.J. Statutes 39:4-97                 Careless driving                                                2 points

·         N.J. Statutes 39:4-98               Speeding (1-14 m.p.h. over limit)                      2 points

Protect Yourself From Civil Suits.  If there was an accident, ask the judge to mark the plea so that it cannot be used in a later civil case.

If No Deals, Hire a Lawyer.  If the prosecutor will not deal, ask to have your case rescheduled, saying something like, "This is more complicated than I thought; I'd like time to get a lawyer."  Then get one without delay. 

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KNOWING WHEN YOU CAN DEFEND YOURSELF

·         What Is a Simple Traffic Ticket?

·         What Is NOT a Simple Traffic Ticket?

CONTACT A LAWYER

DISCLAIMER

Contact a Lawyer

The law firm of John Menzel routinely handles traffic tickets in municipal court throughout New Jersey.  To learn more about John Menzel, J.D., and his law firm click on the following topics:

SIGNIFICANT CASES

q      Defended by John Menzel, J.D.

PUBLICATIONS AND ARTICLES

q      Publications and Articles by John Menzel, J.D.

q      Seminars and Lectures by John Menzel, J.D.

q      Articles About John Menzel, J.D.

CONTACT JOHN MENZEL, J.D.

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DISCLAIMER