Can You Go To Prison For Road Rage In New Jersey?

“Road rage” is not a crime in New Jersey. This term merely refers to aggressive and confrontational behavior behind the wheel, and you will not find the phrase anywhere in the criminal statutes of the Garden State. However, you can certainly face incarceration for crimes you commit during road rage incidents. If you’re facing criminal charges after a traffic incident in Bergen County, speak with a criminal defense lawyer.

New Jersey Man Gets 25 Years in Prison for Road Rage 

In April of 2024, it was reported that a man from New Jersey had been sentenced to 25 years in prison for crimes he committed during a road rage incident. Back in 2022, he accidentally struck a woman’s vehicle while reversing down a side road in Elizabeth. Instead of providing his contact and insurance information, he attempted to flee.

The woman successfully photographed his vehicle, presumably to capture his license plate number. After noticing this, the defendant reversed back down the avenue toward the woman – who attempted to flee on foot. He then turned the vehicle around and intentionally rammed the woman. After one hit, the suspect reversed and hit the woman a second time. Finally, he fled the scene and was eventually arrested. According to police, the entire debacle occurred because the suspect was trying to circumvent rush-hour traffic on a main road.

The victim survived and was able to provide evidence in the following criminal trial. In addition, the entire incident was captured by a nearby surveillance camera. These factors made it very difficult for the defendant to fight his charges – and he was sentenced to 25 years in state prison for attempted murder. He was also convicted of other charges, and he will have to wait about 20 years before he is eligible for parole.

This incident shows how serious road rage incidents can become in New Jersey. Remember, a vehicle can be considered a “deadly weapon.” Even if you intentionally drive toward a pedestrian before slamming on the brakes, this could lead to charges of attempted murder. In the eyes of the criminal courts, there isn’t much difference between intentionally driving toward a pedestrian at “ramming speed” and shooting a firearm at them.

How to Fight Road Rage Crimes in New Jersey 

If you face serious charges related to road rage incidents in New Jersey, you should attempt to establish that you committed “traffic infractions” rather than criminal offenses. Crashing into someone by accident is a much less serious offense compared to intentionally ramming someone. Similarly, an accidental car accident death is much less serious compared to vehicular homicide.

Contact Phillip J. Murphy, Attorney at Law 

Criminal charges after road rage incidents can change your life forever. Even if you lose your temper for a split second, you could struggle with criminal consequences for years to come. With that being said, you can still avoid incarceration with the right defense strategy. New York City reckless driving lawyer Phillip J. Murphy approaches road rage incidents with considerable experience in both traffic and criminal law. Reach out today to get started with a defense strategy.

Sources:

cbsnews.com/newyork/news/elizabeth-nj-road-rage-attempted-murder-vincent-jean-prison/

njcourts.gov/sites/default/files/charges/homicide9.pdf?cb=5b9183a5