Your License, Our Priority

Driving in an Unsafe Manner (NJSA 39:4-97.2)

NJSA 39:4-97.2 is a catch-all provision that simply states, “Not with standing any other provision of law to the contrary, it shall be unlawful for any person to drive or operate a motor vehicle in any unsafe manner likely to endanger a person or property.”

Fines and Penalities

A first offense will result in a fine between $50 and $150. A second offense will result in a fine between $100 and $150. A third offense will result in a fine between $200 and $500.

You will also be assessed a $250 surcharge, which will be distributed to the Division of Revenue in the Department of the Treasury. This applies to any offense, including your first, and it is charged in addition to the above fines, not instead of them.
Obviously, driving in an unsafe manner in New Jersey is an expensive proposition, but unlike most other driving violations, you will not receive any traffic points for a first or second offense. However, for a third or subsequent offense that occurs within five years of your most recent offense, you will have four points added to your driving record.

You should take these points seriously, because if you get six points on your record in any three-year period, you will be fined $150 (plus $25 for each point above six). If you have 12 points on your record at any time, your license will be suspended.
The points on your record don’t expire, but three points will be subtracted for each year you go without a driving violation or a license suspension. You can also reduce your point total by participating in safe-driver programs, though there is a limit to how many points can be subtracted using this method.

Insurance Points

A third or subsequent conviction of driving in an unsafe manner will also earn you four “insurance eligibility points”—a system used by New Jersey auto insurance providers to gauge how much of a risk you present. More points on your record will result in higher insurance premiums, and if you accumulate too many points, you will not be able to buy insurance through any private company and will need to do so through a more expensive state program.

How a New Jersey Traffic Ticket Lawyer Can Help

If you have been accused of driving in an unsafe manner, you are facing steep fines. Additionally, if it is not your first offense, you are at risk of paying higher insurance premiums for three years. To make sure your rights are protected, please call New Jersey traffic ticket lawyer Dan Matrafajlo at (908) 248-4404. With his years of experience defending New Jersey drivers, he may be able to help you get your fines reduced or charges dropped.

Wrong way on a one-way street (NJSA 39:4-85.1)

Driving the wrong way on a one-way street is against the law in New Jersey. In f

Tailgating (NJSA 39:4-89)

Tailgating is when your car follows another car too closely, so closely that it

Stopping at a Railroad Crossing (NJSA 39:4-127.1)

Section 39:4-127.1 of the New Jersey Annotated Statutes provides that a driver i

Slow Speed Blocking Traffic (NJSA 39:4-97.1)

Exceeding the speed limit on a highway in New Jersey is one of the most commonly

Reckless Driving (NJSA 39:4-96)

New Jersey has two separate statutes defining the similar-sounding traffic viola

Racing on a Public Highway (NJSA 39:5C-1)

New Jersey has two statutes forbidding racing on a highway, and NJSA 39:5C-1. 39

Racing on a Highway (NJSA 39:4-52)

If you live in New Jersey and get a speeding ticket for racing your car on a hig

Leaving the Scene of an Injury Accident (NJSA 39:4-129)

Leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in an injury or death is one of t

Leaving the Scene of a Non-Injury Accident (NJSA 39:4-129(b))

Leaving the scene of an accident (commonly referred to as “hit-and-run”) is

Improper U-Turn (NJSA 39:4-125)

New Jersey Annotated Statute 39:4-125 prohibits making a U-turn in certain locat

Improper Turn From Approved Turning Course (NJSA 39:4-124)

New Jersey Annotated Statute 39:4-124 gives the State Highway Commissioner and l

Improper Turn at Traffic Light (NJSA 39:4-115)

Section 39:4-115 of the New Jersey Annotated Statutes describes turning at an in

Improper Right or Left Turn (NJSA 39:4-123)

In this article, New Jersey traffic attorney Dan Matrafajlo will discuss New Jer

Improper passing on right or off roadway (NJSA 39:4-85)

If you’re going to pass a car that’s driving in the same direction as you, y

Improper Passing of School Bus (NJSA 39:4-128.1)

On a New Jersey undivided highway, when approaching or overtaking a stopped bus

Improper Passing of a Frozen Dessert Truck (NJSA 39:4-128.4)

Section 39:4-128.4 of the New Jersey Annotated Statutes deals with passing a fro

Improper passing in no passing zone (NJSA 39:4-86)

When you’re driving your car along a New Jersey roadway, you must overtake and

Improper operating of vehicle on divided highway or divider (NJSA 39:4-82.1)

Driving on or across a safety island or any other physical barrier on a divided

Improper Crossing of Railroad Grade Crossing by Certain Vehicles (NJSA 39:4-128)

NJSA 39:4-128 applies only to drivers of certain commercial vehicles, including

Improper Crossing of Bridge (NJSA 39:4-127.2)

A movable span bridge or “swing bridge” is a bridge that can pivot horizonta

Improper Backing or Turning in Street (NJSA 39:4-127)

In this article, New Jersey traffic ticket attorney Dan Matrafajlo will explain

Failure to yield to overtaking vehicle (NJSA 39:4-87)

When you’re driving along a New Jersey roadway and you see that another car is

Failure to yield to emergency vehicles (NJSA 39:4-91 and 39:4-92)

When you’re driving along a New Jersey roadway and you see an emergency vehicl

Failure to yield at intersection (NJSA 39:4-90)

When you approach an intersection, there are several rules governing who should

Failure to use proper entrances to limited-access highways (NJSA 39:4-90.1)

Improperly entering or leaving limited-access highways is against the law in New

Failure to Stop for Police Whistle (NJSA 39:4-122)

Section 39:4-122 of the New Jersey Annotated Statutes mandates that a driver mus

Failure to Stop for a Traffic Light (NJSA 39:4-105)

In this article, Dan Matrafajlo will explain the color system used for New Jers

Failure to Stop at a Flashing Red Signal (NJSA 39:4-119)

When a New Jersey driver approaches a traffic control signal that is flashing re

Failure to Signal a Stop or Turn (NJSA 39:4-126)

In this article, New Jersey traffic ticket attorneys Dan Matrafajlo will explain

Failure to keep right (NJSA 39:4-82)

As a driver, you must drive your car on the right side of the roadway unless it�

Failing to Observe a Police Officer's Directions (NJSA 39:4-57)

Although you might think that traffic tickets are mainly for failing to obey tra

Driving While License Suspended (NJSA 39:3-40)

Section 39:3-40 of the New Jersey Statutes prohibits a person from operating a m

Driving on sidewalk (NJSA 39:4-71)

According to New Jersey law, with a few exceptions, you are not allowed to drive

Driving on public or private property to avoid a traffic sign or signal (NJSA 39:4-66.2)

If you’re driving along a road and you see a red light ahead of you, you might

Careless Driving NJSA 39:4-97

New Jersey Annotated Statute 39:4-97 says, “A person who drives a vehicle care

FREE CASE EVALUATION

Please fill out the following form and we will contact you as soon as possible.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Newsletter