[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.newjerseycriminallawfirm.com\/blog\/how-certain-criminal-charges-can-impact-your-drivers-license-in-nj\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.newjerseycriminallawfirm.com\/blog\/how-certain-criminal-charges-can-impact-your-drivers-license-in-nj\/","headline":"How Certain Criminal Charges can Impact your Driver\u2019s License in NJ","name":"How Certain Criminal Charges can Impact your Driver\u2019s License in NJ","description":"Driving is considered a privilege and not a right in New Jersey. In this sense, your conduct, including criminal charges, can impact your privilege to be a driver and to have a driver\u2019s license. Your driving privileges may be affected in a temporary or short-term way, or in a more long-term way, based on\u00a0illegal driving […]","datePublished":"2018-04-18","dateModified":"2025-08-12","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.newjerseycriminallawfirm.com\/blog\/author\/newjerseycriminallawfirm\/#Person","name":"William Proetta Criminal Law","url":"https:\/\/www.newjerseycriminallawfirm.com\/blog\/author\/newjerseycriminallawfirm\/","identifier":12,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/bf046e483cfd218aa23b814afd7f502ea8e6bd244632161b6e42395a76e91a8e?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/bf046e483cfd218aa23b814afd7f502ea8e6bd244632161b6e42395a76e91a8e?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"William Proetta Criminal Law","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.newjerseycriminallawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/william-proetta-criminal-law-logo.png","url":"https:\/\/www.newjerseycriminallawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/william-proetta-criminal-law-logo.png","width":250,"height":76}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.newjerseycriminallawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/license-suspension-sign.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.newjerseycriminallawfirm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/license-suspension-sign.jpg","height":353,"width":1763},"url":"https:\/\/www.newjerseycriminallawfirm.com\/blog\/how-certain-criminal-charges-can-impact-your-drivers-license-in-nj\/","about":["Criminal Defense"],"wordCount":572,"articleBody":"Driving is considered a privilege and not a right in New Jersey. In this sense, your conduct, including criminal charges, can impact your privilege to be a driver and to have a driver\u2019s license. Your driving privileges may be affected in a temporary or short-term way, or in a more long-term way, based on\u00a0illegal driving activities\u00a0or criminal activities entirely unrelated to driving, like\u00a0selling drugs. To learn more about how being convicted of a criminal offense or traffic violation can affect your ability to drive in New Jersey, continue reading. You can also contact our Middlesex County law firm anytime at\u00a0(732) 659-9600 for a free consultation with a criminal defense attorney who can explain how NJ law applies in your specific case.Why Your Driver\u2019s License may be Affected by a Conviction in NJIf you are found guilty of certain offenses in New Jersey, the department of motor vehicles (\u201cDMV\u201d) is required to suspend, cancel or revoke your license. First, you may lose your license as a result of a motor vehicle violation. This includes guilt as determined through conviction after trial, as well as submitting a guilty plea. For example, being found guilty of racing on a public street or eluding the police means that your driver\u2019s license must be suspended for a period of months or even years. If you are a \u201chabitual traffic offender\u201d (HTO) \u2013 someone who regularly breaks traffic laws \u2013 and have three offenses within five years, then your license can be suspended, canceled or revoked for five or more years. Some offenses include warranting driver\u2019s license suspension include:\u00a0driving under the influence,\u00a0leaving the scene of an accident, and\u00a0driving with a suspended license.Second, a criminal charge that impacts your driver\u2019s license does not always have to do with driving.\u00a0Drug charges\u00a0can affect your license, including suspension (temporary) and revocation (more permanent). In New Jersey, if you are found guilty of possessing drugs in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10, your driving privileges may be suspended for up to two years.\u00a0This includes even a disorderly persons (misdemeanor) charge for\u00a0possession of marijuana. Furthermore, a driver\u2019s license suspension covers possession, selling or trafficking crimes related to drugs. After being convicted or pleading guilty to the offense, the court must suspend your license immediately.Finally,\u00a0getting your license back\u00a0after it is suspended or revoked is a separate issue from your criminal case, one that requires you to deal with the New Jersey Department of Motor Vehicles. You are usually required to pay fees to reinstate your license after suspension and, after revocation, you may have to re-apply for a license. In New Jersey, this includes paying fees, as well as completing the road skills and driver\u2019s knowledge tests.Facing a License Suspension for Drug or Traffic Charges in Middlesex County?Criminal charges \u2013 even those that have nothing to do with driving, like controlled dangerous substance offenses \u2013 can impact your driver\u2019s license in New Jersey. If you have been charged with an offense that carries a license suspension sentence, you need sound legal counsel from an experienced criminal defense attorney. At\u00a0William Proetta Criminal Law, our lawyers are dedicated to defending clients against criminal and traffic charges throughout Middlesex County, NJ, including in Woodbridge, Edison, New Brunswick, East Brunswick, and Piscataway. Call\u00a0(732) 659-9600 for a free consultation or\u00a0send us a message online."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.newjerseycriminallawfirm.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How Certain Criminal Charges can Impact your Driver\u2019s License in NJ","item":"https:\/\/www.newjerseycriminallawfirm.com\/blog\/how-certain-criminal-charges-can-impact-your-drivers-license-in-nj\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]