New Jersey Criminal & Traffic Defense
Charged in New Jersey? You have a defense.
Speeding ticket on the Turnpike, DWI stop on a Friday night, a summons you don't fully understand: whatever landed you here, we've spent 23+ years handling exactly this, 31,000+ cases' worth. Tell us what happened and we'll tell you where you actually stand.
What We Defend
One firm for every New Jersey charge
Municipal court is our home turf: traffic tickets, DWI and disorderly persons offenses. We also defend serious criminal charges in Superior Court across the state.
Traffic Violations
Speeding, careless and reckless driving, no insurance, suspended license, cell phone tickets. We fight the points, the fines and the insurance hit.
Traffic defenseDWI / DUI Defense
First offense to refusal charges. We challenge the stop, the field tests and the Alcotest, and we know the interlock rules that rewrote NJ DWI law.
DWI defenseMunicipal Court Defense
We appear in municipal courts across New Jersey every week. In many cases you won't have to appear at all. We go for you.
Municipal court guideDrug Charges
Possession, paraphernalia and distribution under N.J.S.A. 2C:35, including the diversion programs that can keep your record clean.
Drug defenseExpungement
Clear your New Jersey record. We handle eligibility, the filing and the hearing, so old charges stop costing you jobs and apartments.
Clean your recordTheft & Shoplifting
From shoplifting to burglary charges, we work to keep a momentary mistake from becoming a permanent criminal record.
Theft defenseAssault & Violent Crimes
Simple assault up through the most serious indictable charges. Self-defense, mutual-fight and credibility defenses, built case by case.
Violent crime defenseAll Practice Areas
Juvenile defense, sex crimes, appeals, probation violations, police misconduct and more.
See everything we handleThe Municipal Court Advantage
We're in these courtrooms every week
New Jersey has more than 500 municipal courts, and each one runs its own way. Knowing the court — its schedule, its prosecutor, how it treats a first offense — is half the fight. That knowledge is what 23+ years of daily municipal practice buys you.
Most people don't realize that paying a ticket is pleading guilty. The points, the surcharges, the insurance increase, all of it comes with that payment. So before you pay anything, call us. It's free, and it might change your mind.
If you hire us, we take it from there. For most municipal matters that means we appear in court for you, negotiate with the prosecutor, challenge the evidence where it's weak, and push for a dismissal or a no-point amendment. You go to work. We go to court.
And you'll get a straight answer at every step, including when the honest answer is that the best available deal is one you should take.
Where you'll find us
Mount Holly is home base, a short walk from the Burlington County courts. But any given week our attorneys are in municipal courtrooms all over the state. See the courts we cover.
Client Reviews
What 300+ Google reviews keep saying
“Greg Shugar took on some serious traffic offenses with me and went to every court appearance… in the end it was a slam dunk, dismissal on all charges! Highly recommended!”
“Very professional! Excellent communication. They got me results. I highly recommend the team if you have a traffic issue. Everything got resolved professionally and quickly.”
“Would like to thank Greg for his excellent representation. You kept me informed every step of the way… Would highly recommend you again & again.”
Your Defense Team
The people you'd actually be hiring
Small firm, on purpose. The attorney you talk to at the consultation is the one who stands next to you in court, and the one who picks up when you call with a question.
Common Questions
Straight answers before you hire anyone
Do I really have to show up to court for this ticket?
Often, no. New Jersey Court Rule 7:12-3 lets your attorney appear for you or resolve many municipal matters by mail, depending on the charge and the court. A lot of our clients never take a day off work.
What is this going to cost me?
For most municipal court and traffic matters we quote a flat fee up front, so you know the full number before you decide anything. The consultation itself is free, and if a lawyer honestly is not worth it for your ticket, we will say so.
Can you keep the points off my license?
Often a charge can be negotiated down to a lesser or no-point violation, which is what protects your license and your insurance rate. Every case is different and nobody can guarantee an outcome, but that is the goal we work toward in every traffic case.
They wrote me up for reckless driving. Is that worse than careless?
Yes, considerably. Careless driving (N.J.S.A. 39:4-97) is a 2-point offense for driving without due caution. Reckless driving (N.J.S.A. 39:4-96) is 5 points, involves willful disregard for safety, and can carry jail time. Officers sometimes write the heavier charge when the facts support the lighter one, and sorting that out is a big part of what a defense lawyer does.
I got the ticket two hours from home. Do you go that far?
Yes. Our office is in Mount Holly, but we defend clients in municipal courts throughout New Jersey. If you picked up a ticket on the Turnpike, the Parkway, or in a town you had never heard of until that day, we can almost always appear there for you.
The consultation is free.
The charge on your record isn't.
Tell us what happened, even if you're not sure it's worth a lawyer. You'll get a real assessment, usually the same business day, and the decision stays yours.
Or send us the short version
Tell us what happened — an attorney or staff member will reach out, usually the same business day.