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Connecticut's Drunk Driving Law - DUI
The facts are...

Driving is a privilege, and under Connecticut's Implied Consent Law any person who operates a motor vehicle is presumed to have given his or her consent to a test to determine blood alcohol concentration (BAC).

You are legally intoxicated if your BAC is .08 or above. If you are under 21 years of age, you are legally intoxicated at a .02 BAC or higher.

Connecticut has enacted strong new measures to combat impaired driving. Stiff penalties, including mandatory sentencing and strict enforcement of our laws send a clear message: Driving under the influence will not be tolerated on Connecticut's roadways.

Driving Under the Influence (DUI)

In Connecticut, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs is a criminal offense. This offense may be prosecuted with or without any direct evidence of a person's BAC. The determining factor is whether a person's ability to drive has been impaired. If You are Arrested for DUI:

You will be detained by the police and read your rights.
Your vehicle will be towed at your expense.
You will be taken in a police cruiser to the police station.
If the test registers a BAC of .08 or higher, you will be held on the presumption that you were operating under the influence.
You will be kept in a police lock-up until you are bailed out.

If you have been charged with a Connecticut DUI it is important to realize that time is very critical. You could lose your Connecticut Driver's License if you do not act immediately, so call our toll free number 1-866-995-9410 or fill out the Free DUI Consultation Form on the appropriate county information page. Simply click on the county link below and it will take you to the county page.

Connecticut will pursue two separate and distinct actions against you: Administrative Per Se Hearing and Criminal Case. In EACH of those two actions, you stand to lose your license.

Once notified, you will have only 7 (seven) days in which to file your request for the Administrative Hearing that will determine the administrative penalties. The fact is, you need a qualified Connecticut DUI Attorney to help you as you fight to save your driver's license and freedom. To have one of our experienced Connecticut DUI Lawyers contact you, click on the county link above to complete and submit our free contact form.

Two ways to lose your license:

There are two laws to protect citizens of Connecticut from the impaired driver:

Administrative Per Se Through DMV

Administrative Per Se Through DMV

The driver's license sanctions (license suspension periods) outlined below have been revised recently and will be imposed in addition to criminal penalties. In most cases, the driver's license sanctions will be imposed much earlier. In all cases, they will be imposed in addition to criminal penalties and will appear on your driving record.

Driver's 16 and 17-Years-Old

Blood Alcohol Level	First Offense	Second Offense	Third Offense
Refusal to submit to a blood, breath or urine test	18 months	3 years	6 years
Test results of .02 or higher; up to, but not including, .16	1 year	2 years	4 years
Test results of .16 or higher	1 year	30 months	5 years

Driver's Between the Ages 18 to 20

Blood Alcohol Level	First Offense	Second Offense	Third Offense
Refusal to submit to a blood, breath or urine test	1 year	2 years	6 years
Test results of .02 or higher; up to, but not including, .16	6 months	18 months	4 years
Test results of .16 or higher	240 days	20 months	5 years

Drivers 21 Years Old and Older

Blood Alcohol Level

First Offense

Second Offense

Third Offense

Refusal to submit to a blood,

breath or urine test

6 months

1 year

3 years

Test results of .08 or higher; up to, but not including, .16

90 days

9 months

2 years

Test results of .16 or higher

120 days

10 months

2 1/2 years

If you have been arrested for operating under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and either failed a chemical alcohol analysis of your blood, breath, or urine or refused to submit to such analysis, your operator's license or privilege is suspended effective 12:01 a.m. on the thirty-first day following the date of the arrest. A Notice of Suspension will be mailed to your address of record allowing seven days to request a hearing.

Before the final date to request a hearing noted on the suspension notice, you must call the Administrative Per Se Unit directly at 860-263-5204. That Unit can be contacted between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

If you have already scheduled a hearing and wish to request a continuance for good cause, you must contact the Administrative Per Se Unit directly at 860-263-5204. However, if the suspension has already taken effect and you would like to find out your requirements for restoration, please either write or call:

Department of Motor Vehicles
Driver Services Division
60 State Street
Wethersfield, CT 06161-2525
Phone: 860-263-5720

Please note: A second offense of either refusing a chemical alcohol test or failing a chemical alcohol test on or after October 1, 1995, you must complete a substance abuse treatment program prior to restoration.

Contact one of the following providers that conduct the program for DMV promptly as the minimum period of participation is approximately nine months.

The Commonwealth Group
1-800-257-9990 or 860-645-0553

Connecticut Renaissance, Inc.
1-866-655-5171

MCCA
1-203-792-4515

Phoenix Houses of New England
1-866-456-6291

Criminal Penalties Through Court

Criminal Penalties Through Court

Under Connecticut's criminal law, a driver arrested for DUI will receive both a summons and a court date. If the court proceedings result in a conviction, the following penalties must be imposed:

First Offense*

Second Offense*

Third Offense*

(within 10 years of last conviction)

Fine: $500 to $1,000

$1,000 to $4,000

$2,000 to $8,000

Jail: 6 mo. 48 hrs.
minimum mandatory
or 6 mo., suspended with

100 hrs. community service.

2 yrs., 120 days

minimum mandatory

and 100 hrs. of

community service.

3 yrs., 1 yr. minimum mandatory and 100 hrs.of community service.

License Suspension: One year

If the arrest was in
Connecticut, for suspensions
effective on or after 11/09/2005, the suspension
is one year followed by 24 months with an approved ignition interlock device.

Suspension duration imposed for arrests that did not occur
in Connecticut is three years.

If the operator is under 21 years of age, the suspension
is three years or until 21 years of age (whichever is longer).

Permanent Revocation

(Effective Oct. 1, the person may request a hearing after at least 6 years after date of revocation)

* Note: Click on the each link above to view the restoration requirements for each offense.

Alcohol Affects Driving Ability

Any amount of alcohol will affect driving ability. Alcohol's effect is magnified by emotions, physical condition, use of prescription drugs or other types of drugs, some over-the-counter medications and some herbal supplements.

Source: http://www.ct.gov/dmv/cwp/view.asp?A=813&Q=249562

We can help you get the legal representation you need to fight your drunk driving charge in Connecticut and possibly minimize or avoid such consequences as court costs, fines, probation, community service, penalties, jail time and a criminal record.

Our Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers have proven track records in representing those accused of drunk driving. Getting expert legal help with your Connecticut DUI can be affordable and easy. Many of our Connecticut DUI Lawyers offer a free initial case evaluation and flexible payment options.

Driving Under the Influence of Drugs - DUID
This is akin to DUI for driving under the influence of alcohol or driving while intoxicated. You may be found guilty of DUID if you drive while under the influence of certain prescription or over-the-county drugs.

Connecticut Information:

Motor Vehicle Department: http://www.ct.gov/dmv
DUI Laws: http://www.ct.gov/dmv/cwp/view.asp?a=813&Q=249562&dmvPNavCtr=%7C
Driver's Manual (.pdf): http://www.ct.gov/dmv/cwp/view.asp?a=2594&q=400260

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Fairfield	Litchfield	New Haven	Tolland
Hartford	Middlesex	New London	Windham

First Offense*	Second Offense*	Third Offense* (within 10 years of last conviction)
Fine: $500 to $1,000	$1,000 to $4,000	$2,000 to $8,000
Jail: 6 mo. 48 hrs. minimum mandatory or 6 mo., suspended with 100 hrs. community service.	2 yrs., 120 days minimum mandatory and 100 hrs. of community service.	3 yrs., 1 yr. minimum mandatory and 100 hrs.of community service.
License Suspension: One year	If the arrest was in Connecticut, for suspensions effective on or after 11/09/2005, the suspension is one year followed by 24 months with an approved ignition interlock device. Suspension duration imposed for arrests that did not occur in Connecticut is three years. If the operator is under 21 years of age, the suspension is three years or until 21 years of age (whichever is longer).	Permanent Revocation (Effective Oct. 1, the person may request a hearing after at least 6 years after date of revocation)