Facing a DUI charge can be painful and embarrassing for you and your family. Our lawyers are competent and sympathetic and understand the need to protect your rights and preserve your dignity as quickly and discreetly as possible. 

 

The DUI process can be overwhelming.  It usually involves a two stage process consisting of separate prosecutions by the Court and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).  The DMV conducts a hearing to determine what will happen to your driving privileges after being charged with a DUI.  The court decides what, if any, criminal punishment would be appropriate. 

 

These processes are separate and distinct from one another, but both are very complex. The information below provides some answers to frequently asked questions, but you should not attempt to navigate this legal maze on your own! Contact us today for a free detailed consultation.

 

 

In Connecticut, you are legally intoxicated if your blood alcohol content (BAC) is .08 or above. If you are under 21 years of age, you are legally intoxicated at a .02 BAC or higher.

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 BAC. If you are arrested for DUI, you will be asked to submit to a BAC test.  If you refuse, your license will be suspended.  If the test registers a BAC of .08 or higher, you will be held on the presumption that you were operating under the influence.

Under Connecticut's criminal law, the 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 for a first offense:

·         Fine: $500 to $1,000 plus other costs;

·         Jail: 6 months, execution suspended after 48 consecutive hours imprisonment, or 6 months, execution suspended with 100 hours community service;

·         Probation: 18 months;

·         Driver’s License Suspension: One Year; and

·         Other sanctions depending on the individual case;

The license suspension periods outlined below are imposed in addition to any criminal penalties.  In most cases, the driver's license sanctions will be imposed much earlier.  

·         Refusal to submit to a blood, breath or urine test = 6-month suspension;

·         Test results of .02 or higher if you are under 21= 90-day suspension;

·         Test results of .08 to .16 = 90-day suspension;

·         Test results of .16 or higher = 120-day suspension.

We can help you apply for an Application for Special Permit to Operate a Motor Vehicle to and from Work. Contact us for more information.

 

If you possess a commercial driver’s license (CDL), the consequences are much more severe, and you could be facing serious penalties. Contact us to discuss your individual situation and your options.