Motor Vehicle Hearings

Hiring an Attorney to Reduce License Suspensions at Motor Vehicle Services - MVC/DMV Hearings
More info at http://www.njlaws.com/reduced_license...
If a driver in New Jersey receives too many points after traffic violations, the Motor Vehicle Commission or "MVC" [formerly the Division of Motor Vehicles or "DMV"], will mail the driver a Scheduled Suspension Notice. The MVC/DMV notice will set forth the date the suspension is scheduled to start as well as the length of suspension. In addition, if you received a moving violation ticket while your drivers license was suspended, the MVC/DMV usually also schedules a suspension. If you receive a Scheduled Suspension Notice, it is important to immediately sit down with an experienced Criminal/Traffic Attorney to discuss possible ways to reduce the suspension.

A written request for hearing must be served on the MVC/DMV. If the written request for hearing is not received prior to the scheduled suspension, the MVC/DMV will automatically suspend your drivers license for the maximum period permitted.

Hearings are generally held in Trenton, Eatontown, Mahwah, and Deptford. Hiring an attorney to reduce license suspension often ranges in costs between $900.00-$1,500.00. There is no Public Defender or free attorney in MVC/DMV hearings. After you retain an attorney, he or she will usually serve a written "Opposition to Suspension AND REQUEST FOR ALJ HEARING." Your attorney will request a hearing on any proposed suspensions or other administrative actions. Demand will be made that the Motor Vehicle Commission/Division of Motor Vehicles provide your attorney with discovery pursuant to the New Jersey Administrative Code, NJAC 1:1-1 et seq. and NJAC 1:13-10. Your attorney¹s letter needs to set forth legal issues and defenses he or she intends on raising at the hearing.
The MVC/DMV, prior to suspending a license or taking specific action against a driver, must mail a notice to the driver informing them of the proposed suspension or any other action. The proposed action to be taken against any licensee by the MVC/DMV becomes effective on the date set forth on the notice except when otherwise specified. Such is the case unless the licensee or his/her attorney makes a request, in writing, for a hearing within 25 days from the date of notice. New Jersey Administrative Code (NJAC)13:19-1.2.

Under NJAC 13:19-1.2, the MVC/DMV should require a prehearing conference with a MVC/DMV employee, or transmit the matter to the Office of Administrative Law for a hearing pursuant to NJAC 1:1. If the parties cannot reach a resolution, the matter will be submitted to the Office of Administrative Law for a hearing. NJAC 13:19-1.8(d). The motor vehicle statute, NJSA 39:3-40, is quasi-criminal and penal in nature, and must be strictly construed against the State. State vs. Churchdale-Leasing Inc., 115 N.J. 83, 102, 557 A. 2d 277 (1989). The word conviction, as it is used in NJSA 39:3-40, refers only to a plea or a finding of guilt in a court of competent jurisdiction and not to an order of suspension entered by the MVC/DMV as the result of an administrative proceeding. State vs. Conte, 245 NJ Super. 629 (Law Div. 1990).
Generally, an attorney can only reduce the suspension period, not eliminating suspension entirely. However, it is often important to reduce suspension time to save a job or a career.

KENNETH VERCAMMEN & ASSOCIATES, PC
ATTORNEY AT LAW
2053 Woodbridge Ave.
Edison, NJ 08817
(Phone) 732-572-0500
(Fax) 732-572-0030
website: www.njlaws.com