Nj dui

[jerryp2375]

I was charged with a first offense DUI in NJ back in late 2007. At the time, the breathalyzer machine was under investigation and due to this I had the option to stay my sentence until the machine was deemed accurate. So I did. I was an out-of-state resident in PA. I went back into court about a year later and was sentenced to attend IDRC classes, and also pay the necessary fines to the local jurisdiction. I agreed to pay my fines on a payment plan, and scheduled my IDRC class, but very shortly thereafter I moved to MD due to a work transfer. I made a few payments, but the cost of the move (single father at the time and paying child support) made me miss a few payments, and I also could not get out of work to attend the IDRC class. I tried rescheduling the class but they would not allow me to. I tried to catch up on my payments online, but the online payment system had me shut out. I called the local municipality explaining my situation, but they told me that I had to come into the court to make the payments in person and also go before the judge once again. Problem was that I was working almost 7 days a week for countless hours a day. I never had the chance to get back to NJ and also incurred another work transfer back to PA about 3 years ago. My PA license was expiring, so when I went to renew I got the old "you'll have to satisfy your issues with NJ before your license can be renewed". I had no idea that my license would be effected in PA, just my privleges revoked in NJ. Fast forward to today. I recently was let go from my job (same job) and have been in contact with the local municipality as I wanted to get this taken care of and was told the same thing by the court administrator, that I would have to come in and pay the fines and go back before the judge. I also asked about taking the IDRC class and was told that I would have to go before the judge again to see if he'll allow me to go back to take the IDRC class.

Long story, but my questions are... Has anyone experienced anything like this and what was the outcome when going back before the judge? I really would like to avoid jail time as I now have a family to look after and need to find work ASAP to help support them. I have been offered a job back down in MD where my fiancee is from and we were also in the process of looking to purchase our first home in the coming months, but with losing my job and my license situation, I may not be able to take this job offer. Understand that I am not trying to get over on the situation, but make the best of my bad situation for my family.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[jerryp2375]

I guess one more question I have is...I was notified by the court administrator when I called the other day that a warrant was issued for the unpaid fines. I know the DUI will show on my driver abstract, but when applying for new jobs will the warrant & also the DUI show in a regular criminal background check?

 

[HighwayMan]

An active warrant will certainly show on a criminal history. A DUI should also.

You should get to the court as soon as possible to clear this up and pay your fines so that the warrant can be vacated. You've been playing with fire long enough.

 

[jerryp2375]

Thanks. As an update, I have paid the state surcharges and successfully completed the IDRC (DUI) classes today actually. Tomorrow I will be going in to the court to pay the local fines and hope and pray (I'm not religious, but I will find religion!) that I do not have to do any jail time as I am now in compliance with the sentence and the only thing left is to pay those local court fines that have the open warrant.

Also, just another update as well. My fiancee has a job interview tomorrow as well down in MD. I have been approved for the mortgage to buy the home (first) pending providing an offer letter showing proof of employment. The only thing that I need to get the job is a current valid license. Wish me luck because I am literaly at wits end nervous about tomorrow and the possibility of losing the opportunity at the job and also buying our first home.

I will post an update as soon as I know my full outcome. For anyone else reading this in search of hope for themselves or someone else, please just don't be stupid in the first place and drink and drive. You can see what I have at risk, and I'll be damned if I will ever put myself or my family at this risk again.