DUI Penalties in Connecticut

Concept of judge passing sentence for drunk driving

In Connecticut, a person over age 21 can be charged with Driving Under the Influence (DUI) if they have a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .08% or higher. Someone under 21 can be charged with DUI penalties if they have a BAC of .02% or higher. People who hold a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) can be charged with drunk driving if their BAC is .04% or higher.

A person can also be charged with drunk driving without direct evidence of their BAC. The determining factor is whether their ability to drive has been impaired.

The DUI penalties in Connecticut are severe and can vary considerably depending on your circumstances.

The Lebedevitch Law Firm, LLC, defends people accused of drunk driving in Fairfield and New Haven counties. In practice since 2011, DUI defense attorney Stephen Lebedevitch has earned a reputation as a fierce and tenacious defense attorney who knows how to get results. To put our experience to work for you, contact us today to schedule an appointment to discuss your situation and how we can help.

Connecticut DUI Penalties

If you were charged with DUI in Connecticut, you face two separate issues — suspension of your driver’s license, and a criminal case.

Administrative License Suspension

After an arrest for DUI in Connecticut, your driver’s license will be suspended if you failed the breath test or refused to take it. This administrative driver’s license suspension is imposed by the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and is separate from and in addition to any criminal penalties you might face.

The Connecticut DMV will mail a notice of driver’s license suspension to your address of record. If you wish to contest the administrative license suspension, you have seven days to request a hearing. To request a hearing, you must contact the Administrative Per Se Unit by calling 860-263-5204 (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday) before the deadline stated on your suspension notice. You may also contact the Administrative Per Se Unit by email at DMV.AdminPerse@ct.gov.

In most cases, you face a 45-day administrative license suspension followed by a period in which you can only drive with an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) installed. The suspension period begins 30 days after the date of your arrest, and the length of the suspension depends on whether you have prior DUI charges and whether you refused the BAC test. Connecticut’s administrative license suspension periods are as follows:

  • First Offense DUI with BAC test: 45-day suspension, then 6 months with the IID
  • Second Offense DUI with BAC test: 45-day suspension, then 1 year with the IID
  • Third or Subsequent Offense DUI with BAC test: 45-day suspension, then 2 years with the IID
  • First Offense DUI with refusal: 45-day suspension, then 1 year with the IID
  • Second Offense DUI with refusal: 45-day suspension, then 2 years with the IID
  • Third or Subsequent Offense DUI with refusal: 45-day suspension, then 3 years with the IID

Criminal DUI Penalties

You also face criminal DUI penalties for a Connecticut drunk driving charge. The severity of the penalties depends on whether you have prior DUI convictions.

First Offense DUI

For a first-offense DUI, you face a fine of $500 to $1,000, and either (a) up to 6 months in jail with a minimum of 2 days served, or (b) up to 6 months of suspended probation and 100 hours of community service.

First-time offenders are eligible to participate in Connecticut’s Impaired Driver Intervention Program (IDIP).

Second Offense DUI

A second DUI offense is punishable by a fine of $1,000 to $4,000 and up to 2 years in jail with a mandatory minimum of 120 consecutive days served and 100 hours of community service with probation.

Third and Subsequent DUI

A third or subsequent DUI is punishable by a fine of $2,000 to $8,000 and up to 3 years in jail with a mandatory minimum of 1 year in jail and 100 hours of community service with probation.

Your driver’s license will be revoked for 2 years. If your driver’s license is reinstated, you will be required to have an IID for as long as you drive.

How The Lebedevitch Law Firm Can Help

The DUI penalties can be severe. But conviction is not guaranteed, and you are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Attorney Lebedevitch has extensive experience defending people charged with DUI and has successfully represented people who admitted they consumed alcohol, had an open container in their vehicle, or were involved in serious motor vehicle accidents. In fact, when other lawyers have questions about DUI defense, they often contact Attorney Lebedevitch for answers.

Contact The Lebedevitch Law Firm Today

Contact The Lebedevitch Law Firm today to schedule an appointment to discuss your situation and how we can help.

The Lebedevitch Law Firm represents people charged with DUI in Stamford, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Darien, Rowayton, Fairfield, Trumbull, Westport, Wilton, Weston, Danbury, New Haven, Bethany, Woodbridge, Milford, Stratford, Bridgeport, and throughout the State of Connecticut. We offer predictable flat fees in DUI defense cases.

Categories: DUI