New Jersey’s Municipal Courts have jurisdiction over non-indictable offenses: motor vehicle offenses, disorderly and petty disorderly persons offenses, and municipal ordinance violations. Municipal courts are governed by specific rules and statutes and a conviction in municipal court may result in serious penalties. If you are found guilty of an offense in municipal court, your sentence may include jail for up to 180 days, probation supervision, revocation of driving privileges, community service, and substantial financial penalties. Your sentence is municipal court may also result in collateral consequences such as insurance surcharges and increased insurance premiums, the loss of employment due to loss of driving privileges, and the inability to register your motor vehicle with the Motor Vehicle Commission.

You have Constitutional rights that apply in Municipal Court. One of those rights is your right to be represented by an attorney. Appearance of counsel is recommended in most municipal court matters to insure that your other constitutional rights are protected. You have the right to be informed of the charges against you. You have the right to remain silent concerning the charges against you and anything you say may be held against you. You may enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. You have the right to obtain a postponement to allow you the opportunity to consult with an attorney and prepare your defense. You are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. You have the right to testify or not to testify in your own behalf and you have the right to call witnesses to testify for your defense.

The attorneys at The Shamy Law Firm are among the most respected and experienced in the field. We are well-acquainted in all aspects of municipal court defense, with a particular emphasis on the highly complex area of drunk driving. Whether referred to as DUI, DWI, driving while intoxicated, driving under the influence , operating a vehicle while impaired or drunk driving, the offense is governed by a strict plea bargaining prohibition. New Jersey law has developed in such a way that litigating drunk driving offenses has become very complex so attorneys must possess knowledge and experience to investigate, pursue all possible defenses, file pretrial motions and advocate effectively at trial. These offenses are among the most serious violations with the most serious penalties resolved in New Jersey’s municipal courts.

The attorneys at The Shamy Law Firm are well-versed in all other offenses heard in Municipal Court. Municipal Courts have jurisdiction over all traffic offenses, many of which carry serious penalties. If you are convicted of Driving While Suspended, you may lose your license for up to six months, face substantial monetary penalty and possible jail time. If the reason for your suspension is a drunk driving or failure to carry motor vehicle insurance conviction, you face additional, more severe penalties. If you are convicted of Failure to Carry Motor Vehicle Insurance on your vehicle, you may lose your license for up to two years, be ordered to perform community service, face substantial monetary penalty and possible jail time. A conviction for Reckless Driving can result in loss of your driving privileges, jail time, 5 points on your driving record and as a result, and increase of your insurance premiums.

Municipal Courts also have jurisdiction over disorderly persons and petty disorderly persons offenses. Disorderly persons convictions can result in up to six months in jail and petty disorderly persons offenses can result in up to 30 days in jail. Examples of such offenses include: shoplifting, simple assaults, criminal trespass, criminal mischief, charges that relate to Domestic Violence incidents, thefts, disorderly conduct, harassment, lewdness, possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS, illegal drugs such as marijuana) and possession of drug paraphrenalia (syringes, pipes, needles, etc.).

Drug charges handled in Municipal Courts are subject to a prohibition against plea bargaining and carry very serious consequences. In addition to fines, there are mandatory monetary penalties imposed if you are convicted. A conviction can also result in up to six months in jail, loss of your driving privileges for six months and a criminal record.

The attorneys in the Shamy Law Firm have appeared in many municipal courts in the State of New Jersey. The following is a list of just some of those courts. Note that the Shamy Law Firm can represent you in any municipal court in the State.

Middlesex County

• Carteret
• Cranbury Township
• Dunellen
• Edison
• Highland Park
• Metuchen
• Middlesex
• Milltown
• Monroe Township
• New Brunswick
• Old Bridge Township
• Perth Amboy
• Piscataway Township
• Plainsboro Township
• Sayreville
• South Amboy
• South Brunswick Township
• South Plainfield
• South River
• Woodbridge Township

Monmouth County

• Aberdeen Township
• Allenhurst
• Allentown
• Asbury Park
• Atlantic Highlands
• Avon-by-the-Sea
• Belmar
• Brielle
• Colts Neck Township
• Eatontown
• Englishtown
• Fair Haven
• Farmingdale
• Freehold Borough
• Freehold Township
• Hazlet Township
• Highlands
• Holmdel Township
• Howell Township
• Interlaken
• Keansburg
• Keyport
• Lake Como
• Little Silver
• Manalapan Township
• Manasquan
• Marlboro Township
• Matawan
• Middletown Township
• Millstone Township
• Monmouth Beach
• Neptune City
• Neptune Township
• Ocean Township
• Oceanport
• Red Bank
• Roosevelt
• Rumson
• Sea Bright
• Sea Girt
• Shrewsbury Township
• Spring Lake
• Spring Lake Heights
• Tinton Falls
• Union Beach
• Upper Freehold Township
• Wall Township
• West Long Branch

Ocean County

• Barnegat Light
• Barnegat Township
• Bay Head
• Beach Haven
• Beachwood
• Berkeley Township
• Brick Township
• Dover
• Eagleswood Township
• Harvey Cedars
• Island Heights
• Jackson Township
• Lacey Township
• Lakehurst
• Lakewood Township
• Lavallette
• Little Egg Harbor Township
• Long Beach Township
• Manchester Township
• Mantoloking
• Ocean Gate
• Ocean Township
• Pine Beach
• Plumsted Township
• Point Pleasant
• Point Pleasant Beach
• Seaside Heights
• Seaside Park
• Ship Bottom
• South Toms River
• Stafford Township
• Surf City
• Tuckerton

If we can assist please call The Shamy Law Firm at 732-800-1090 or submit an online questionnaire. The initial consultation is free of charge.