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New Jersey law requires people who drive to purchase insurance policies that will cover certain minimum amount if they cause injury or damage. If you fail to insure your car or are unable to prove that you have car insurance when you are pulled over or are involved in an accident, you will likely be issued a citation for driving without insurance. If convicted, you will be facing significant fines and the loss of your driver’s license. If you are convicted of driving without insurance a second or subsequent time, you are looking at a mandatory two-week jail term in addition to fines of up to $5,000 and a two-year suspension of your driver’s license.
Because of these significant consequences, it is advisable to avoid a conviction for driving without insurance if at all possible. Unfortunately, unlike other traffic offenses, failure to have insurance is a black or white issue – either you have it or you did not. Here are some of the options you have
Establishing that You Did, in Fact, have Insurance – If you had insurance at the time that you were stopped by the police but just did not have documentation on you, the process of defending yourself against the allegations is fairly simple. If you show up on your court date with your insurance card or other documentation that shows that you were insured at the time you were stopped, the judge can dismiss the case, with court costs.
Purchase Insurance and Take a Plea Deal – If you did not have insurance at the time that you were pulled over, your first order of business should be to purchase car insurance. The main concern of the court is that you are in compliance with the law, so showing up to court without rectifying the situation is probably a bad idea. If you purchase insurance, it will likely help your attorney negotiate a plea arrangement with the prosecutor that avoids the most serious consequences associated with driving without insurance.
Call 732-662-7658 today for a free consultation with a NJ traffic attorney
Driving without insurance is a serious offense, and people who are accused of it are often facing several other traffic tickets arising from the same traffic stop. If you simply plead guilty to the allegations against you, it can result in serious consequences, including the loss of your driver’s license. To learn how an attorney can help you, call New Jersey traffic lawyer Leon Matchin today at 732-662-7658.
