Connecticut DUI Attorney

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Connecticut DUI Law

In Connecticut, it is against the law to drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This can be called DUI, DWI, or simply drunk driving. While these may seem like simple terms to understand, the DUI laws are actually very complex and difficult for someone who is not a legal professional to truly understand. If you have been arrested for a DUI offense, it is imperative that you contact a Connecticut DUI attorney as soon as possible after your arrest. A qualified Connecticut DUI lawyer will be able to review the facts of your case and put together the best possible defense.

Connecticut DUI Law

In Connecticut, there are two types of prosecution for DUI offenses. One is based on the accused being impaired while operating a motor vehicle. Prosecuting under this theory requires that it be proven that the accused was too impaired to safely and reasonably operate a motor vehicle at the time of arrest. Law enforcement officers and prosecutors can show this simply by demonstrating that the defendant was impaired in any way. Failure to complete sobriety tests successfully, the smell of alcohol on the defendant, a disheveled appearance of the defendant, or bad driving habits such as excessive braking, driving too slowly, speeding, or weaving and swerving. No blood alcohol concentration level needs to be proven for this type of prosecution. The second is based on blood chemistry; specifically that the defendant had a blood alcohol concentration level that exceeded the legal limit of 0.08%. The actual level of impairment of the defendant does not matter under this theory. The prosecution simply has to show that the defendant's blood alcohol concentration level was over the legal limit. Contacting a Connecticut DUI attorney immediately following your arrest will allow you the opportunity to put together the best defense possible.

Connecticut DMV Penalties

When you're arrested for driving under the influence, you not only face criminal charges and penalties, you also face administrative penalties through the Department of Motor Vehicles. When you are arrested for a DUI offense, the clock starts running on the day you are arrested. You will be notified that your driver's license will be suspended on the thirty-first day following your offense and given the opportunity to request a hearing. You will only be given 87 days to request the hearing, so it is important that you check your mail regularly and respond to all correspondence. Saying you did not get the notice does not mean that you will be given an extension or that your license suspension will not take effect. Make every effort to contact the DMV to request a hearing the day of your arrest or the day after your arrest if it took place at night. By contacting the DMV on the first day following your arrest, you'll give yourself a cushion of time in case the person you need to speak with is out of the office or you have trouble getting connected to the right department. If you wait until the last minute and experience any of these difficulties, you may miss the deadline to request a hearing. Hiring a Connecticut DUI lawyer immediately after your arrest means that your attorney can represent you in both the DMV proceedings and during your criminal case. A skilled Connecticut DUI attorney can help you to save your license while you await your criminal trial. The penalties imposed by the DMV depend on the level of offense and whether you refused to take a chemical test. Refusal to take a chemical test carries a 6 month suspension for one refusal, one year suspension for two refusals, and three year suspension for three refusals. Driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.02% or greater while under the legal drinking age of 21 will result in suspensions of 90 days for the first offense, 9 months for the second offense, and two years for the third offense. Adults who have submitted to a chemical test are grouped by blood alcohol content levels for penalty determination. Offenders with a blood alcohol level of 0.08% to 0.16% face a 90 day suspension for the first offense, 9 month suspension for the second offense, and a two year suspension for the third offense. Offenders with blood alcohol levels of 0.16% or higher face 120 days of suspension for the first offense, 10 months for the second offense, and two and a half years for a third offense.

Connecticut DUI Criminal Penalties

The criminal penalties for driving under the influence in Connecticut depend on a number of variables such as prior offenses and other circumstances. First offenses result in a one year suspension of the driver's license, 48 hours of mandatory jail time with another 6 months of jail time that can be suspended if the offender performs community service, and fines of $500 to $1,000. Second offenses are more serious and carry more serious consequences. Second offenses can carry penalties of a mandatory minimum of 120 days in jail with the remaining 6 months of jail time suspended for community service, three year license suspension, and $1,000 to $4,000 in fines. Third offenses carry penalties of one year of minimum mandatory jail time with the rest suspended for 100 hours of community services, fines of $2,000 to $8,000, and permanent license revocation. These penalties have the potential to make your life very difficult. Getting a job with a criminal record and no driver's license will be almost impossible; whatever job you are able to get may pay low wages or pay under the table. Hiring a Connecticut DUI lawyer is the only way you can get a chance to successfully defend yourself against a DUI charge and its life-altering consequences.

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