Source: https://law.justia.com/cases/new-jersey/appellate-division-published/2018/a0452-16.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 02:01:01+00:00

Document:
Before Judges Yannotti, Carroll, and Leone.
a week, a form of periodic service.          The Law Division reversed.
Municipal    Court   Practice   §   29:3-3   (2017)    (citing   State    v.
ineligible for periodic service of the mandatory 180-day sentence.
Accordingly, we affirm the Law Division.
shot of scotch whiskey. The alcohol affected his ability to drive.
and hit another parked car, and again kept driving to his house.
for DWI, and a prior conviction for controlled substances.
leaving the scene, and for careless driving.
sentence on Mondays and Tuesdays only.
The State appealed the "illegal sentence" on the DWI offense.
N.J.S.A. 39:4-50(a)(3) is without merit,"
Defendant   raises    an   issue     of    statutory    interpretation.
legal issues,'" we apply "'a de novo standard of review applies.'"
must hew to that standard of review.
of a day to the nearest hour actually served."
offenses made effective January 20, 2004 by "Michael's Law," L.
N.J.S.A. 2B:12-22 was adopted in L. 1993, c.
292, § 1, and became effective on February 15, 1994.
facility . . . .
be released on a work release program.
basis in the legislative history, and produces absurd results.
2003); Sponsors' Statement appended to S. 2378 (Mar. 10, 2003).
substitute and statement. Senate Comm. Substit. for S. 2378 (Nov.
24, 2003); Senate L. & Pub. Safety & Veterans' Affairs Comm.
Statement to Senate Comm. Substit. for S. 2378 (Nov. 24, 2003).
third and subsequent [DWI] offenses."    Governor's Statement at 1.
streets.    It will guarantee they spend time in jail.'"   Ibid.
reoffend."    Sponsors' Statement at 53.
serve both "90 days imprisonment in a county jail or workhouse"
and "a 90-day drug or alcohol inpatient rehabilitation program."
workhouse."    Assemb. L. & Pub. Safety Comm. Statement to Assemb.
A. 3342 1 (Nov. 24, 2003) [Senate Committee Statement].
90 days would have to be served in jail without exception."
Committee Substitute at 3; Senate Committee Amended Bill at 3.
Assembly Committee Statement at 1.
themselves off the streets.'"       Governor's Statement at 1.
keeping such defendants confined for the 180 days.
interpretation of Michael's Law in State v. Luthe, 383 N.J. Super.
383 N.J. Super. at 513.
authority for imposition of a periodic sentence"); see State v.
"SLAP" refers to a sheriff's "labor assistance program."
days on a restaurant's schedule.
sentencing options" for third or subsequent DWI offenders.                      Id.
some of the same characteristics" as jail).                   We ruled N.J.S.A.
N.J.S.A. 39:4-51 authorized work release.
of a first or second violation of Section 39:4-50[.]'"                Ibid.
N.J.S.A. 39:4-51).     We added that "
does not allow work release as an alternate form of sentencing."
home arrest, day reporting and weekend reporting."          Id. at 516.
construction of the statute."      Ibid.
(App. Div. 2007).    We made clear "Luthe is binding."          Id. at 391.
facility' with 'no allowance for noncustodial alternatives.'"
383 N.J. Super. at 514).
and rejected his request to serve "his sentence on weekends"
denied to first and second DWI offenders.
provisions of Michael's Law . . . and the ruling in State v.
388 N.J. Super. at 432.
of third and subsequent DWI offenses."
388 N.J. Super. at 438.
alternative programs . . . must cease."             Id. at 516.
388 N.J. Super. at 439-40.
to weekend sentences in Kotsev and Luthe are dicta."       State v.
Rodriguez, __ N.J. Super. __, __ n.12 (App. Div. Apr. 12, 2018).
periodic service.      N.J. Super. at    n.12.
DWI Offenders – State v. Luthe and 'Michael's Law'" at 1-2 (Oct.
the streets, even if they won't keep themselves off the streets.'"
388 N.J. Super. at 433-34.
388 N.J. Super. at 440.     However, N.J.S.A.
N.J.S.A. 2B:12-22, and Luthe properly relied on them.
139 N.J. 582, 591 (1995).
days a week was effectively a request for work release.
service can be limited to "particular days."
admitted into work release or SLAP programs."               Ibid.
no   guarantee    of    a   day-for-day     reduction.
"be released on a work release program."
language to bar work release as the Legislature intended.
383 N.J. Super. at 515-16.
had been served, and were ineligible for weekend service.
of the 2004 amendments" to "increase the penalties for violators").
with the overall legislative scheme."
the gun laws.     Id. at 239.
designed to strengthen the DWI laws and increase traffic safety.
the    use    of    hand-held    wireless      phones   in     moving   vehicles."
to public policy, the spirit of the law should control.'"                     Ibid.
Legislature's draftsmanship was "'subject to criticism'").
construction must be construed strictly against the State."
release, not allow periodic service.
189 N.J. 539, 550, 553 n.4 (2007).
to warrant discussion.   R. 2:11-3(e)(2).

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