by Lindsay BernsteinCourts Reopening Virtually
As we are all becoming acclimated to our new social climate, the Courts have had to adapt as well. While most Courts have reopened, Municipal Court cases in New Jersey are being handled remotely with virtual appearances. We are still provided the opportunity to conference our cases with the Prosecutor in a closed video chat setting and then place the final plea deal on the record in front of a Judge. Courts are implementing this current structure with no definitive end date. Our firm is closely monitoring any changes throughout the State and it will be interesting to see if in-person appearances ever come back to full capacity.
by Lindsay BernsteinConsequences of Decreased Ticketing
Amidst the current pandemic, you many have noticed that there are many fewer officers issuing traffic citations for such offenses as speeding and improper turns. While this may be welcome news to some motorists, there are significant consequences of this decreased issuance of ticketing. Many municipalities, Lyndhurst as an example, have noticed a substantial decrease in revenue due to this decreased ticketing. Furthermore, reduced ticketing may result in an increased number of traffic offenses being ultimately convicted.Traffic citations, while frustrating for the recipient, do serve an important role in both funding, and their ultimate goal of promoting safety.