West New York Criminal & Traffic Offenses

Living in West New York comes with the usual big-city issues — including crime. As a resident, it’s important to know your rights and responsibilities when it comes to criminal and traffic violations. This article provides an overview of common offenses, penalties, and defenses so you can stay informed.

The Most Common Criminal Offenses

West New York sees its fair share of misdemeanors and felonies. Some of the most common criminal charges include:

• Theft/larceny – Taking someone else’s property without permission. Everything from shoplifting to burglary falls under this category. Penalties range from fines and probation for minor shoplifting to years in prison for repeat burglars.
• Assault – Threatening or physically harming someone else. Simple assault is a disorderly persons offense, while aggravated assault (causing serious bodily injury) is a 2nd-degree felony. Prison time, fines, anger management classes are common sentences. Self-defense is a possible defense.
• Drug possession – Having an illegal substance on your person. This includes marijuana, cocaine, heroin, prescription meds without a prescription, and more. Possession of small amounts may lead to probation plus fines and drug counseling. Intent to distribute brings stiffer penalties. Medical necessity has sometimes been used as a defense.
• DUI – Operating a vehicle while impaired by drugs or alcohol. First offenses lead to license suspension, classes, fines, and possible jail time. Penalties escalate for repeat offenses. Defenses include challenging accuracy of breathalyzer tests.
• Disorderly conduct – Acting in a way that risks causing public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm. This covers everything from public drunkenness to brawling. Fines, community service are common penalties. Defense argues conduct did not cause significant disturbance.

Traffic Violations You Should Know

West New York streets stay busy, and that means plenty of fender benders, speeding tickets, and other moving violations. Some of the most common include:

• Speeding – Exceeding the posted speed limit. This can either be for general speeding or specific violations like going over 25 mph in a school zone. Fines, license points, insurance hikes are typical. Defenses fight the radar gun’s accuracy.
• Careless driving – Driving without due caution and putting others at risk. This covers tailgating, unsafe lane changes, texting while driving, and more. Fines, license points, and insurance increases are likely. Defenses argue driver acted reasonably cautiously.
• DUI – Mentioned above for criminal charges, but also results in traffic citations. License suspension, fines, and ignition interlock device required. Defenses fight accuracy of BAC tests.
• Leaving the scene of an accident – Failure to stop after an accident where damage or injury occurred. This “hit and run” violation brings fines, license suspension, possible jail time. Defenses include arguing damage and injuries were insignificant.
• Driving without insurance – Operating a vehicle without proper insurance coverage. Leads to fines, possible community service, license suspension. Defenses argue there was insurance that DMV records failed to show.
• Cell phone use – Talking or texting on a handheld phone while driving. Brings fines up to $400 for multiple offenses. Defenses fight whether driver was actually using phone at time.

How Criminal Charges Get Reduced

Facing criminal charges? Don’t panic. The justice system offers plenty of opportunities for charges to be reduced or even dismissed through plea bargaining. Here’s how it works:

The prosecution usually starts by charging you with the highest possible offenses. But building an airtight case takes time and resources — things the justice system lacks.

So your defense attorney negotiates: Plead guilty to lesser charges in exchange for dropping the bigger ones. The deal gets you a lighter sentence, while saving court expenses of a trial.

Let’s say you’re charged with felony narcotics possession with intent to distribute. Plea bargaining might reduce it to simple misdemeanor possession — dropping jail time to probation and treatment.

But for plea deals to work, you need an experienced criminal lawyer fighting on your behalf. Public defenders juggle heavy caseloads — a private attorney gives your case proper focus.

The prosecution starts high, but savvy defense attorneys bargain them down. Don’t take a bad deal just to quickly end your case — fight for the best resolution.

Finding the Right Defense Attorney

If you’re charged with a West New York crime or traffic violation, finding the right lawyer makes all the difference. Look for these important traits:

• Local experience – Find someone familiar with local courts, judges, and prosecutors. Insider knowledge helps get better results.
• Specialization – Search for lawyers focusing specifically on your type of case — whether it’s DUI, theft, domestic violence, etc. Their expertise gives an advantage.
• Resources – Bigger firms have more attorneys, paralegals, and connections for building strong cases. But focus on the specific lawyer handling your case.
• Communication – Find a lawyer who listens to your side, clearly explains options, and is readily available by phone/email. You need to stay informed and ask questions.
• Affordability – Rates between $100-$500 per hour are typical. But look for flat fees, payment plans, or discounts for low-income clients. Don’t sacrifice quality for cost.

Finding the right lawyer takes research — ask friends for recommendations, search online reviews, and meet with a few options for consultations. It’s worth the effort to get informed counsel.