Connecticut DUI Law
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Connecticut DUI arrests trigger two separate cases! First, there is the court case, where the prosecutor seeks the full array of DWI consequences following a drunk driving arrest. However, there is also a Connecticut DMV Hearing, where an action is taken against the driver’s license of the person accused of Connecticut DUI.
URGENT: If you have been arrested under Connecticut DUI laws for Connecticut DUI, Connecticut drunk driving, or Connecticut DWI, please contact a Connecticut DUI defense attorney for a free consultation at once to protect your driving privileges. Failure to do so will result in the automatic suspension of your driver’s license. Once you receive the DMV notice, you have only SEVEN DAYS TO REQUEST A HEARING.
Connecticut drunk driving cases are referred to as Connecticut DUI, DWI, or drunk driving. The terms are interchangeable. They all relate to the same type of case: driving under the influence of alcohol and/or other drugs.
Connecticut DUI law allows for prosecution on two different theories. First, it is illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or a combination of alcohol and drugs. It is not necessary to have any particular blood alcohol level under this theory of drunk driving prosecution. This type of DWI is proven if the driver is impaired by intoxicants. Impairment may be shown through driving pattern, field sobriety test performance, or chemical test results. However, chemical test results are not necessary for this theory of drunk driving prosecution for a Connecticut DUI. The only required showing is the driver’s impairment.
Connecticut DWI law also allows prosecution for violating the state’s "per se" laws. This makes it a crime to drive with a blood alcohol level of .08% or higher. Under this theory of Connecticut DUI, the impairment of the driver does not matter. This Connecticut drunk driving prosecution is based only on body chemistry. Mental or physical impairment from alcohol is irrelevant to this type of Connecticut DUI.
Connecticut DWI law requires anyone arrested for Connecticut drunk driving to submit to a test of his or her blood or breath to determine alcohol content. Failure to do so will result in a DMV suspension for a minimum of six months.
Connecticut DWI law has a 10-year look-back period. This means that if you have a drunk driving conviction that is more than 10 years old, a new Connecticut DWI arrest will be treated as a first-offense. However, if you have one or more drunk driving convictions that are less than 10 years old, the new arrest will be treated as a second- or third-offense, depending upon the number of prior DUI convictions.
Criminal Penalties Through Court
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:
| First Offense Test results of .08 or higher |
Second Offense (within 10 years) Test results of .08 or higher |
Third Offense (within 10 years of last conviction) Test results of .08 or higher |
|
| Fine: | $500 to $1,000 | $1,000 to $4,000 | $2,000 to $8,000 |
| Jail: | 6 month; 48 hours minimum mandatory or 6 month, suspended with 100 hours community service. | 2 years; 120 days minimum mandatory and 100 hours of community service | 3 years; 1 year minimum mandatory and 100 hours of community service |
| Suspension: | One year | Three years (or until you are 21 years of age, whichever is longer) | Permanent revocation |
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.
| Blood Alcohol Level | First Offense | Second Offense | Third Offense |
| Refusal to submit to a blood, breath or urine test | 6 month | 1 year | 3 years |
| Test results of .02 or higher and you are under twenty-one years of age | 90 days | 9 months | 2 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, 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
If you or someone you care about has been arrested for drunk driving, please contact a Connecticut DWI defense attorney for a free consultation at once to protect your rights. Remember, you have only SEVEN DAYS to request a DMV Hearing, so it is critical to act right away if you’ve been arrested for DWI in Connecticut.