There are a plethora of explanations as to why a police officer might conduct a motor vehicle stop; however, there are certain reasons that regularly come up when looking at enforcement DUI stops that end up in DUI charges. Any will tell you that it is important for you to know your rights with respect to law enforcement stops and whether or not the violation that you were stopped for justified a DUI stop.
For instance, some courts have determined that weaving within a lane is enough reasonable cause for an officer to stop a vehicle on suspicion of driving while under the influence in cases where the weaving goes on for a considerable distance. Courts will generally define what a “considerable distance” is in those types of cases, but many courts have determined that “continuous” weaving within the lane was enough to justify the stop.
Additionally, other courts have determined that weaving within the lane did not authorize the detention of a vehicle and that merely “touching” the other lane was not weaving out of the lane such that it was a violation of the law.
If you have been stopped in New Jersey and that stop resulted in a charge for DUI, it is crucial that you be made fully aware of your rights. You need a skilled New Jersey DUI defense lawyer who can tell you whether or not your violation was one that would justify a DUI stop. If you do not have legal representation, please call Dan Matrafajlo at (908) 248-4404 for a free consultation.
