A New York man bought a car online. Weeks later, driving through Woodbridge, New Jersey, a Flock license-plate camera flagged the vehicle as stolen. He was arrested and charged with receiving stolen property — a serious criminal charge initially headed for Middlesex County Superior Court. The case was dismissed. Here’s why the State’s case fell apart. PROBLEM 1: PROVING THE…

Getting a traffic ticket in New Jersey is stressful at any age. But if you are driving on a probationary license, the stakes are higher than most young drivers realize — even a single ticket can trigger mandatory programs and put your driving privileges at risk. Here is how the point system works and what your options are. New Jersey’s…

A DWI conviction in New Jersey brings penalties that go well beyond fines and license consequences. Most people convicted of DWI — first-time and repeat offenders alike — must also complete a program at an Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC). Here is what that program involves and why it matters. What the IDRC is IDRCs are county-run centers overseen by…

In 2018, the New Jersey Supreme Court decided one of the most consequential DWI cases in state history: State v. Eileen Cassidy, 235 N.J. 482 (2018). The unanimous decision threw out more than 20,000 DWI convictions based on breath tests from improperly calibrated Alcotest machines. What happened New Jersey has used the Alcotest breath-test machine since 2000. In State v.…

Being threatened by a neighbor is frightening — and it is natural to wonder whether you can get a restraining order to make it stop. The answer in New Jersey depends on what kind of legal protection you are seeking, because the state’s main restraining-order law was written for domestic relationships, not neighbor disputes. That does not mean you are…

If you have been handed a careless driving ticket in New Jersey, your first instinct may be to pay it and put the whole thing behind you. That is understandable — but it is worth pausing first. A careless driving conviction under N.J.S.A. 39:4-97 carries 2 motor vehicle points, and those points can linger on your driving record and push…

When Does Speeding Become Reckless Driving in New Jersey? Drivers stopped for excessive speeding in New Jersey are sometimes charged with both speeding under N.J.S.A. 39:4-98 and reckless driving under N.J.S.A. 39:4-96. This raises an obvious question: How fast do you have to drive before speeding becomes reckless driving? Is it 100 miles per hour? Thirty miles per hour over…

Can You Shoot Someone Trying to Steal Your Car in New Jersey? Imagine looking out your window and seeing someone breaking into your car. Can you run outside and physically stop them? Can you use a weapon? Can you shoot someone who is attempting to drive away with your vehicle? Under New Jersey law, the answer depends on an important…

New Jersey DUI and criminal defense attorney Anthony J. Vecchio was recently interviewed by the New York Post regarding the disputed blood-alcohol evidence in the criminal case arising from the deaths of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew Gaudreau. The May 3, 2026, article examined a disagreement over how the defendant’s blood sample was tested and whether the…

Many people believe that police cannot stop a vehicle unless they personally observe the driver commit a traffic violation. While that is often true, it is not always the case under New Jersey DUI law. In certain circumstances, a reliable 911 or citizen report may provide police with the reasonable suspicion necessary to conduct an investigative motor vehicle stop—even if…