Check out our November newsletter!
StevenEllmanLaw.com | 609-362-5933 | November 2025
MEDFORD OFFICE 617 Stokes Road, Suite 108 Medford, NJ 08055
NEW BRUNSWICK OFFICE 317 George St, Suite 320 New Brunswick, NJ 08901
NEWARK OFFICE One Gateway Center, Suite 2600 Newark, NJ 07102
When the Stakes Are High, the Right Attorney Can Change Everything DEFEND AGAINST A DUI
Commercial drivers, those captains of the FedEx, UPS, and Amazon trucks rolling through your neighborhood, as well as the 18-wheelers on the highway, shoulder a heavy responsibility for driving their oversized vehicles safely. That is why the penalties a commercial driver’s license (CDL) holder faces if convicted of DUI are far more severe than for others. A DUI charge can deprive a professional driver of their livelihood for life. That’s one reason I recently fought DUI charges against a client with a CDL all the way to trial. CDL holders lose their licenses for an entire year after a first conviction. For many drivers, that means losing their ability to put food on the table for themselves and their families. For a second offense, a CDL holder can lose their license for life! This makes sense when you consider how easily a drinking and driving truck driver can kill people. My client was facing his first DUI charge. He agreed to a field sobriety test when pulled over and did a great job. In a stroke of luck, when the officer took him to the station, the Breathalyzer machine there wasn’t working. As a result, the evidence against him included no reading of his blood alcohol content, only the officer’s report of his observations of my
client and a video of his field sobriety test. And in New Jersey, an officer’s observations can be enough for a conviction.
Many DUI lawyers would have dumped the case and told my client to plead guilty. But I was a firm believer. In my client’s favor, we had the video of him performing well on the field sobriety test. And so much was at stake: His CDL was his bread-and-butter. In the end, we won dismissal of the DUI charges in return for a conviction on reckless driving charges, with a 90-day suspension of his license and no DUI on his record. This left open the opportunity for him to return to driving in three months, and perhaps to keep his job working on the sidelines in the interim.
Many DUI lawyers would have dumped the case and told my client to plead guilty. But I was a firm believer.
The case illustrates a powerful reason why defendants should always seek out an experienced attorney specializing in DUI cases when facing charges like these. Attorneys for whom DUI cases are just a sideline may lack the patience and determination to fight for clients to the full extent allowable. However, judges and prosecutors throughout the state know me as one who will take a DUI case all the way to trial, if necessary, to win the best outcome for my clients. And that was the outcome in this case. If you hold a commercial or regular driver’s license in New Jersey and you are charged with DUI, you need a skilled, experienced DUI lawyer to navigate the potential consequences. We will bring the full weight of our 40 years of experience to your case, mounting the strongest possible defense, negotiating with prosecutors, and taking your case to trial if necessary. Call us today for a free consultation.
–Steven Ellman
609-362-5933 | 1
ICE CREAM IN YOUR POCKET?
You Can’t Even Make Up These Strange Food Rules
Finger-Licking Fun … or Else! On the subject of making a mess with food items, eating chicken with your hands can be a sticky thrill, and is the only way to partake in poultry eating without running a-fowl of the law in Gainesville, Georgia. If you want to enjoy tasty chicken in that city, stock up on wet wipes and skip the knife and fork, as eating it with utensils is a crime. Although the ordinance
When it comes to state laws about food, specific provisions on the books from past years may leave a funny taste in your mouth and potentially get you in a heap of trouble if you break them. This fact is especially true in parts of the South, where your lunch order may need to come with a side of legal advice. Cones and Captured Horses If you want to stay on the good side of law enforcement in Alabama, always remember that ice cream cones are for licking, not sticking in your back pocket. While it’s pretty safe to assume the thought of engaging in the latter activity hasn’t crossed a single mind in 2025, there was a time when horse thieves would stick ice cream in their pockets to attract equine abductees. Considering that we rarely share the highway with horses these days and most people would prefer not to turn the seat of their pants into a sundae, it’s a safe bet this charge won’t fill up courtrooms for the foreseeable future.
banning knives and forks when consuming chicken was meant as a joke by the local police department, chucking the rule may draw some disapproving clucks when dining in the place affectionately known by locals and city officials as “the Poultry Capital of the World,” especially during its renowned Spring Chicken Festival. Perhaps only a good lawyer can help determine whether the law also applies to vegan “chik’n” options. Drive Smart, Stay Merry
’TIS THE SEASON TO CELEBRATE SAFELY
As the holidays draw near, a national public-service advertising campaign will soon begin, warning partiers to avoid climbing behind the wheel after drinking. Thanksgiving, New Year’s Day, and Christmas are 3 of the 5 most dangerous days to drive, ensuring that law enforcement will be out at
requirement, 12 hours of classes, and a fine, plus state surcharges of $1,000 a year for three years. Even a conviction on a first DUI brings a penalty, including a three-month interlock and the same surcharges. Even if you blow over the state’s legal
limit of 0.08%, a skilled DUI defense lawyer may be able to undermine the accuracy of the test results.
full strength. DUI checkpoints, where police can lawfully stop cars based on certain criteria, are also more common this time of year.
You can refuse a field sobriety test. If you aren’t sure you can balance on one foot for 30 seconds or walk a straight line heel-to-toe, it’s okay to refuse a field sobriety test. Unlike the Breathalyzer test, drivers aren’t required to comply when an officer asks them to perform it. Agreeing entails a certain amount of risk: If you take the test and do well, the officer might decide not to cite you for DUI. However, if you take the test and do poorly, that can be used against you. So, if you are uneasy about doing it or have injuries or medical conditions that might impair your performance, feel free to refuse. Defending yourself on these issues nearly always requires the advice and counsel of a skilled DUI defense attorney. If you are facing DUI charges or have questions about these issues, don’t hesitate to contact us today for a free consultation.
In a realistic video ad from federal safety regulators’ “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over”
campaign, a young man bids goodbye to friends at a festive holiday party and climbs behind the wheel of his car. The axe falls swiftly: Within moments, he swerves down a dark street, runs a red light, and is pulled over and booked on a DUI.
If you find yourself in this situation in the coming weeks, here are two tips to keep in mind.
Take the Breathalyzer. If you’re asked to blow into the Alcotest machine, do it. Drivers suspected of DUI are required by law in New Jersey to agree to a Breathalyzer test. If you refuse, you will be hit by a refusal ticket, a nine-month interlock
2 | StevenEllmanLaw.com
4 Signs You’ve Found a Winning DUI Attorney OUR CLIENTS TELL THE TALE Putting your fate in the hands of an attorney when facing DUI charges is a nerve-wracking process. How do you know you’ve chosen the right lawyer? Your decision could make the difference between getting the charges dismissed and facing a conviction that damages your freedom, finances, and career. All attorneys promote their experience, and we have plenty of that. During our 40 years of work for clients, we have handled more than 1,000 cases. But we have other qualities that truly set us apart. Our numerous five-star client reviews tell the story best. Honesty: “From our first meeting, (Steven) was professional, honest, and extremely knowledgeable,” one client writes. Another adds, “He said he could get the job done, and he did.” Accessibility: Our firm “made sure to keep me updated consistently on everything going on,” another client writes. Compassion: Steven’s “depth of knowledge, courtroom presence, and commitment to his clients are truly exceptional … (he) combines skill, experience, and genuine care for his clients,” a satisfied reviewer reports. Another adds, “(This team is) simply the sweetest!” Effectiveness: “Without his help, I would have lost my job and not been able to take care of my family,” a client says. Adds another: “My career, my life, everything was on the line and Mr. Ellman fought for me like it was, and we got the result I was praying for.” Results like these are the product of a lot of work behind the scenes. A dedicated lawyer will investigate every possible flaw in your case. Did the arresting officer make procedural mistakes or violate your rights when stopping and booking you? Were the testing methods faulty (a judgment that requires technical expertise only acquired through specialized training)? If there are witnesses against you, are they credible? The right attorney is also well-acquainted with the prosecutors and judges who will determine your fate and knows how to negotiate strategically on your behalf. They are skilled in creating doubt about your guilt by poking holes in the evidence against you. Their presence alone can make a difference in prosecutors’ attitudes. If your future or the fate of someone you know or love is at stake because of DUI charges, contact us today. If our numerous satisfied clients are any guide, you won’t regret it.
APPLES BASKETBALL BLACK FRIDAY ELECTION
KINDNESS LEAVES NAP PARADE
PIE SCORPIO TOPAZ VETERAN
WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING “I can’t thank Steven Ellman enough for the incredible job he did handling my case. From our first meeting, he was professional, honest, and extremely knowledgeable about the legal process. He took the time to explain everything clearly, made sure I understood my options, and always kept me informed about what was happening. “Mr. Ellman was very thorough in reviewing all the details of my case. It was clear that he genuinely cared about getting the best possible outcome for me. Thanks to his hard work and expertise, we were able to reach a resolution that was much better than I expected. “He also has an amazing office staff always available to answer every question I had, and keep me in the know with my court proceedings over the 10 months Mr. Ellman represented me. If you’re looking for a smart, skilled, and trustworthy attorney to represent you, I highly recommend Mr. Steven Ellman.” –Jay Shivers
609-362-5933 | 3
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
617 Stokes Road, Suite 108 Medford, NJ 08055 StevenEllmanLaw.com 609-362-5933
Inside This Issue The Road to a Second Chance Starts With the Right DUI Lawyer page 1 Who Knew Eating Could Get You in Legal Trouble? page 2 Don’t Let a DUI Ruin Your Holiday Cheer page 2 Qualities to Look for in a Top DUI Attorney page 3 What Our Clients Are Saying page 3 What Snooze Button? The Ingenious Ways People Used to Wake Up page 4
GETTING OUT OF BED LONG BEFORE THE SNOOZE BUTTON Before Smartphones, There Was Water
Members of Generation Z may find it difficult to believe that people used plug-in alarm clocks to help them get up on time in the morning. However, that seemingly archaic means of timekeeping has nothing on how people managed wake-up time before cellphones — and even electricity, as we use it today — became staples of daily life. In the 4th century BCE, the Greek philosopher Plato created a method to ensure students at his academy — which once counted Aristotle among its pupils — woke up at the correct time each day. To perfect a foolproof system, he turned to a surprising tool: water. He constructed a set of clocks that operated using two basins. One basin would slowly empty into the other throughout the night; when the second basin was full, rattling pebbles or whistling air awakened students from their slumber. Known as klepsydra (or “water thief”) clocks, these timekeepers were astonishingly accurate.
About a century later, Greek inventor Ctesibius of Alexandria expanded on Plato’s design by incorporating mechanics that produced sounds not unlike those of the more modern cuckoo clock. Ctesibius’s version remained popular until the pendulum clock emerged in the 1650s. Although Plato often gets credit for creating aquatic-based alarms, some variation of the klepsydra concept allegedly dates back to at least the 16th century BCE. Archaeologists uncovered a tomb inscription detailing how an Egyptian court official of the era devised a similar system. Regardless of its definitive inventor, the water clock roused people long before phone apps — proving that nature often provides solutions to problems centuries before human technology catches up.
While the water clock was undoubtedly an imaginative masterstroke, it is still reasonable to argue that the “snooze” button remains the most critical time-related creation known to man.
4 | StevenEllmanLaw.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator