DWI First Offense

Court Imposed Penalties

39:4-50(a) Fine $250- 400
39:4-50.8 Drunk Driving Enforcement Fund surcharge $100
22A:3-4 Court costs $3 - 30
2C:43-3.1 Victims of Crime Compensation Board penalty $50
2C:43-3.2 Safe Neighborhood Services Fund surcharge $75
39:5-39 Physician's fee $0- 20
39:4-50(a) Intoxicated Driver Resource Center 12-48 hours
39:4-50(a) Imprisonment 0-30 days
39:4-50(a) Forfeiture of driving privileges<1> 6-12 months
39:3-10.20 Forfeiture of commercial driving privilege<2> one year-life

Bureau of Alcohol Countermeasures

39:4-50(b) Alcohol Education, Rehabilitation, and Enforcement Fund $100

39:4-50(f) Intoxicated Driver Resource Center Costs of further education and/or
treatment $150- 200

Division of Motor Vehicles

39:3-10a Driver License Restoration Fee $50
17:29A-35.b(2) Merit Rating Plan Surcharge<3> $3,000-4,500
17:29A-35.b(3) Merit Rating Plan point assessment $525- 675

Other Consequences

17:29C-7 Cancellation of automobile insurance "of the named insured or of any other operator who either resides in the same household or customarily operates an automobile insured under the policy"
Insurance premium increases

Sentence enhancement on subsequent convictions of N.J.S. 39:4-50, N.J.S. 39:4-50.2, and N.J.S. 39:3-40

39:6A-4.5(b) No cause of action permitted for recovery of economic or noneconomic loss sustained as a result of the accident

NOTES:

Restoration of driving privileges is NOT automatic and is subject to Division of Motor Vehicles approval. N.J.S. 39:4-50

"[A] court shall suspend for not less than one year nor more than three years the commercial motor vehicle driving privilege of a person for a first violation" of N.J.S. 39:4-50, 39:4-129, 2C:1-4, 39:4-50.2, or 39:3-10.24 involving a commercial vehicle.

Merit Rating Plan Surcharge is $4,500 if three events including convictions under either N.J.S. 39:4-50 or N.J.S. 39:4-50.4a occur within three years of each other.