Drivers Won’t Have to Lose License After DWI Conviction Under NJ Bill Proposal

• Dan T. Matrafajlo
• Thu Apr 2025
• DWI,
• 0

New Jersey Assembly Bill 5411 Would Make Losing Driver’s License Obsolete After DWI Offenses if Ignition Interlock Devices (IID) are Installed

New Jersey Senate Bill 5411 would make some noteworthy changes with respect to who can keep their driver’s license after a DWI conviction. According to the proposed legislation, “any person who is required to forfeit the right to operate a motor vehicle in this State may, in lieu of forfeiting the right to operate a motor vehicle, install an IID and receive a one day credit against the period of license forfeiture for every two days that the person has the IID installed.” Let’s break down how this would work in practice. 

Suppose that a person is sentenced to a 30-day license suspension. The defendant may install an IID on their vehicle and keep it active for a period of 60 days before sentencing. This would create 30 days of credit under the proposed legislation. This would effectively result in a 30-day license suspension being satisfied before it begins. Affected parties could therefore never have to forfeit their license as they go about their life. However, there are several situations where credit would not be available.

• Bodily Injury: Credit would not be available if the DWI offense resulted in serious bodily injury to another person.
• Drugs: Credit would not be available if the DWI offense was related to drug impairment. This may include narcotics, hallucinogens, or other habit-producing drugs.
• Commercial Vehicles: Credit would not be available if the offense involved a commercial vehicle and controlled substances.

New Jersey Senate Bill 5411 would take effect immediately if passed. It would not apply retroactively to offenses committed before the bill was passed. It would only apply to offenses committed on or after the date that it has passed. The bill’s provisions would expire on January 1, 2029.

Getting Legal Help for DWI Offenses

Having to face a DWI charge can be very difficult in many different ways. One of the most consequential aspects of a DWI conviction is losing your driver’s license. It is important that anyone charged with DWI consider their legal options. Even if you are going to be convicted, there are many ways that an attorney can help mitigate the personal, professional, and financial damage that a DWI offense causes you.

Have you or someone that you care about been charged with DWI in the state of New Jersey? Our team of New Jersey DWI attorneys at Beninato & Matrafajlo are here to help in any way that we can. We serve clients across the state and will do everything in our power to ensure that your constitutional rights are being protected at all times. You don’t have to go through this ordeal on your own. Whether you just have legal questions or are wondering how an attorney might be able to help with your particular case, feel free to reach out to our office. You can contact us anytime for a risk-free consultation at 908-355-7100.