Drunk Driving Felony Charges – What makes a DUI/DWI more serious in Pennsylvania and New Jersey
Our criminal defense law firm, based in Philadelphia, but with a second office in Moorestown, New Jersey, represents people charged with vehicle related crimes in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. While the majority of these offenses pertain to driving under the influence (drunk driving (DUI/DWI)), we also represent accused persons where alcohol or drugs aren’t involved. Drunk Driving, Driving While Impaired or Driving While Intoxicated (Title 75, Section 3802, PA; 39: 4-50, NJ) are often lower level misdemeanor charges, they are sometimes graded as felony crimes.
In these situations it is important to understand the differences in the elements of the offenses for these individual traffic related Pennsylvania and New Jersey charges which are graded as felony offenses in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Drunk Driving Under the Influence is graded as a misdemeanor in Pennsylvania under Title 75 Section 3802 and is graded as a traffic non indictable in New Jersey under R.S. 39:4-50 (Driving While Impaired.)
Aggravated Assault By Vehicle – Non Drunk Driving
In Pennsylvania, aggravated assault by vehicle under (Title 75 – PA Traffic Code) § 3732.1, is committed when a person recklessly or with gross negligence causes serious bodily injury to another person while engaged in the violation of any law within the Commonwealth or that particular municipality pertaining to the operation or use of a motor vehicle or car (i.e. speeding). A person who commits this offense commits a felony of the 3rd degree. While there are no mandatory minimums associated with aggravated assault by vehicle, under this section there are sentencing enhancements if the offense is committed within an active work zone.
Homicide By Vehicle – Non Drunk Driving
The elements of homicide by vehicle (Title 75, Section 3732, PA; 2C: 11-5, NJ) are the same as aggravated assault with the exception that the prosecution must establish beyond a reasonable doubt that the reckless or grossly negligent act caused a death or a fatality. Like aggravated assault, homicide by vehicle under Section 3732 is graded as a felony of the 3rd degree. While there is no mandatory minimum sentence, there is a 5 year potential sentencing enhancement if the offense is committed in an active work zone. In addition to these criminal charges, which would merge for the purposes of sentencing in Pennsylvania, reckless driving under Section 3736 (Title 75), would also merge for the purposes of sentencing. This offense, however, is much less seriously and is graded as a summary level offense (max 90 days in county jail) in Pennsylvania. Reckless driving is committed when a person drives a vehicle with “wanton” disregard for the safety of persons or property.
How Drunk Driving Changes These Felony Offenses
Both aggravated assault by vehicle and homicide by vehicle don’t require the prosecution (district attorney) to establish that the driver was under the influence of any drugs or alcohol, there are separate charges for these crimes in Pennsylvania. Under Section 3735, homicide by vehicle while DUI, is graded as a felony of the 2nd degree and carries with it a 3 year mandatory minimum term.
This felony charge is committed when a person unintentionally causes the death of another as the result of violating Section 3802 (DUI Statue). Aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI has the same elements except the prosecution obviously is not required to prove a homicide.
If you compare the elements of (Title 75) Section 3735 homicide by vehicle – DUI, and Section 3732 homicide by vehicle, non-DUI, you will notice that the non-DUI charges require the prosecution to establish that the person acted recklessly or with gross negligence. This is not required under Section 3735 but negligence is an element under Section 3735.1 (aggravated assault by vehicle – DUI). This crime is committed when a person negligently causes serious bodily injury to another as a result of a violation of the DUI statute (3802).
New Jersey Drunk Driving Crimes and Offenses
In New Jersey, Drunk Driving or Driving While Intoxicated (39: 4-50, NJ) is a traffic offense. New Jersey has similar statutes and an aggravated assault by vehicle is committed when a person recklessly causes serious bodily injury to another. It is graded as a crime of the 4th degree if serious bodily injury occurs but is a disorderly person offense (non-indictable) if the prosecution can only establish bodily injury.
Keep in mind that proof that a person was operating a handheld device at the time of the incident allows the court to draw an inference that the person was driving recklessly.
Assault by auto while DUI is a crime of the 3rd degree in New Jersey under 2C: 12-1(c) (2) and is a crime of the 2nd degree if serious bodily injury occurs as a result of the incident while DUI (RS39:4-50). Unlike Pennsylvania, DUI in and of itself in New Jersey is a non-criminal offense but considered a traffic offense.
How To Learn More?
For more information on drunk driving related offenses and non-drunk driving related traffic offenses in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, I encourage you to keep reading my blog, visit my free download section which contains a variety of resources helpful to any accused person. Also check out my free book 5 Ways to Fight & Win Your Pennsylvania DUI Case!
Contact Our Criminal Defense Lawyers in PA & NJ
Please click here to contact our Philadelphia criminal defense lawyers. We offer free case reviews and serve the following areas in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Atlantic City, Camden, Cherry Hill, Chester, Conshohocken, Doylestown, Media, Norristown, Philadelphia, Pottstown, Salem, Upper Darby, Upper Merion, Upper Providence, Vineland & Woodbury areas.
