A Driving While Intoxicated (DUI/DWI) arrest in Fort Lee is not just a traffic ticket—it is a life-altering event. Because Fort Lee is a massive transit bottleneck bridging New Jersey and New York via the George Washington Bridge, the Port Authority Police, New Jersey State Troopers, and local Fort Lee officers aggressively patrol the area. A conviction here can cost you your driving privileges, force the mandatory installation of an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) in your vehicle, impose thousands of dollars in surcharges, and potentially result in jail time. 

I am Brett M. Rosen, Esq., a partner at Proetta, Oliver & Rosen. Featured in People Magazine, my entire career has been defined by standing up for the underdog and fighting the unlimited resources of the government.

As a Criminal Trial Attorney certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey—a prestigious distinction held by less than 1% of the state’s practicing lawyers—I bring high-stakes, tech-forward trial advocacy to every case I handle. I’ve been featured as a legal analyst in The New York Times, CNN, Fox News, Law360, and wrote an article for the New Jersey Law Journal. In 2023, I secured a full acquittal for a client facing 40 years in prison, and in 2024, I obtained a directed verdict of acquittal in a trial involving a police officer.* Consistently named to the Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers Rising Stars list and maintaining a perfect 10.0 Superb Avvo rating, I provide the aggressive, trial-ready defense you need when your license, livelihood, and reputation are on the line.**

With an office in neighboring Englewood Cliffs, I litigate complex DWI cases in Fort Lee and throughout Bergen County. I know the local courts, the prosecutors, and precisely how to dismantle their evidence.

*Disclosure: Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

**Disclosure: No aspect of Super Lawyers Rising Stars advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. Please visit the Super Lawyers Selection Process for a detailed description of the Super Lawyers selection methodology.

Fort Lee Municipal Court Information

If you are arrested for a DWI, DUI, or Refusal to Submit to a Breath Test in Fort Lee, your case will be heard in the local municipal court. Even if you were arrested by the Port Authority Police Department (PAPD) on the bridge, the Fort Lee Municipal Court retains jurisdiction.

Borough of Fort Lee Municipal Court

• Court Address: 309 Main Street, Room G-01, Fort Lee, NJ 07024

• Phone Number: (201) 592-3500 x1509

• Business Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM

• Court Administrator: June C. Keelen, CMCA

• Court Sessions: Criminal and DWI matters are generally heard on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 9:30 AM, and on the first and third Thursdays at 9:00 AM.

DUI/DWI Offenses & Penalties in New Jersey

New Jersey penalizes drunk driving (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50) based on your Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) tier and your history of prior offenses. Below are the current penalties under New Jersey law:

First Offense DWI Penalties

The severity of a first offense depends entirely on your BAC reading:

• BAC of 0.08% to 0.099%: You will lose your license until you install an Ignition Interlock Device (IID). You must maintain the IID for 3 months. Penalties also include a $250–$400 fine, up to 30 days in jail, and 12–48 hours in the Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC).

• BAC of 0.10% to 0.149% (or Drug DUI): You forfeit your license until the IID is installed, which must remain in your vehicle for 7 to 12 months. This tier carries a $300–$500 fine, up to 30 days in jail, and IDRC attendance.

• BAC of 0.15% or Higher: This carries a mandatory license suspension of 4 to 6 months. You must install the IID during the suspension period and keep it installed for an additional 9 to 15 months after your license is restored.

Second Offense DWI Penalties

A second offense within 10 years escalates the penalties significantly.

• Penalties: A mandatory license suspension of 1 to 2 years, an IID installed during the suspension and for 2 to 4 years after restoration, fines of $500–$1,000, 30 days of community service, and a jail sentence of 48 hours to 90 days.

Third or Subsequent Offense DWI Penalties

A third offense within 10 years of your second offense brings the most severe municipal penalties in the state.

• Penalties: An 8-year license suspension, an IID installed during the suspension and for 2 to 4 years afterward, a $1,000 fine, and a mandatory 180 days in the county jail (up to 90 days may be served in an approved inpatient rehab facility).

Refusal to Submit to a Breath Test (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.4a)

Under New Jersey’s “Implied Consent” law, refusing to provide a breath sample on the Alcotest machine is a separate offense.

• Penalties: A first-offense Refusal results in the forfeiture of your driving privileges until an IID is installed, which must remain for 9 to 15 months, along with fines of $300–$500. Second and third offenses carry multi-year suspensions and heavier fines, compounding alongside any underlying DWI charges.

Strategic Defenses to Fort Lee DUI Charges

Because plea bargaining is prohibited in New Jersey DWI cases, your attorney must identify constitutional, procedural, or scientific flaws in the prosecution’s case to secure a dismissal. My firm meticulously scrutinizes all discovery (dashcams, bodycams, toxicology reports, and machine calibrations) to build our defense.

• Challenging the Initial Motor Vehicle Stop (4th Amendment): The police must have Reasonable Articulable Suspicion to pull you over. If a Port Authority officer stopped you without a valid legal reason, we can file a Motion to Suppress. If the stop is ruled unconstitutional, the entire case gets thrown out.

• Attacking the Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs): Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (like the Walk-and-Turn and One-Leg Stand) are inherently flawed and subjective. We aggressively cross-examine the arresting officer on their administration of the tests, highlighting poor lighting, uneven road conditions, or the defendant’s physical limitations (such as knee or back issues) that explain poor performance.

• Deconstructing the Alcotest 7110 MKIII-C Results: The Alcotest machine is highly complex and must be strictly maintained. We demand all calibration records, foundational documents, and solution temperature logs. If the officer failed to observe you for a continuous 20 minutes before the test, or if the machine’s certifications are expired, the BAC readings can be deemed inadmissible in court.

• Defending Against Drug DUIs (DRE Protocol): If you are arrested for driving under the influence of marijuana or prescription drugs, the state typically relies on a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE). DRE evaluations are highly subjective, and we frequently use independent medical experts to challenge their scientific validity.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. I live in New York. Will a Fort Lee DWI affect my NY driver’s license? Yes. Under the Interstate Driver’s License Compact, New Jersey will report your DWI conviction to the New York DMV. New York will then likely impose its own penalties, which almost always include suspending your driving privileges in NY and requiring you to pay NY-specific surcharges. Dual representation knowledge is vital in these cases.

2. Can I get a “work license” to drive to my job if my license is suspended? No. New Jersey does not offer provisional, conditional, or “hardship” licenses for work or school. If your license is suspended for a DWI, you cannot drive under any circumstances until your privileges are officially restored.

3. Does New Jersey require the Ignition Interlock Device (IID) for all DWI convictions? Yes. Recent changes to New Jersey law expanded the IID requirement. All individuals convicted of a DWI or Refusal must install an IID in their primary vehicle. You cannot operate a vehicle without one during the court-ordered period.

4. Will a DWI give me a criminal record in New Jersey? No. In New Jersey, a DWI is classified as a severe motor vehicle violation, not a criminal offense (indictable or disorderly persons offense). However, it will appear permanently on your driving abstract, and it cannot be expunged.

Contact a Bergen County DUI Defense Attorney Today

A DWI conviction in Fort Lee threatens your freedom, your job, and your financial security. Do not attempt to navigate the municipal court system alone. You need an aggressive, trial-ready advocate to protect your rights.

Brett M. Rosen, Esq. | Proetta, Oliver & Rosen Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Criminal Trial Attorney

Call our Englewood Cliffs office today to schedule a confidential consultation. Let’s review the facts of your arrest and build a winning defense. 201-693-0476 & brett@nynjcriminalcivilesq.com

Disclaimer & Attorney Advertising Notice The materials and information provided on this page have been prepared for general informational and educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Accessing, viewing, or submitting information through this site does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and Brett M. Rosen, Esq., or Proetta, Oliver & Rosen. You should not act upon any information provided on this website without seeking advice from a licensed professional in your jurisdiction. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.