DUI Penalties in Connecticut

Penalties for Connecticut DUI Convictions

If you are charged with DUI in the State of Connecticut you will face some serious consequences. In Connecticut, the legal limit for blood alcohol concentration “BAC” .08% for drivers over the age of 21 or .02% for individuals under the age of 21. If you are operating a commercial vehicle, then the legal limit is .04%. Even if you refused a breath test or other chemical test you will be prosecuted for DUI. In Connecticut, DUI is classified as a criminal offense and is taken very seriously by the prosecutors and the courts. Having experienced and aggressive Connecticut DUI attorneys by your side during the legal process can mean the difference between the best possible outcome and receiving the maximum sentence.  

In Connecticut, the penalties for DUI escalate if you have prior convictions for DUI. If you have been previously convicted of DUI under Connecticut General Statutes § 14-227a or a comparable offense in another state within the last 10 years, then the State can charge you as a repeat offender. If you are charged as a repeat or multiple DUI offender, then you are facing felony DUI and mandatory jail time. 

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Below are the penalties you could face for criminal DUI convictions:

FIRST OFFENSE DUI

• Up to 6 months in jail with 48 being mandatory unless the judge agrees to allows you to perform community service in lieu of jail time
• 100 hours of community service (if the judge fully suspends your jail sentence)
• Fines between $500 – $1,000
• Court costs and fees of approximately $300
• Probation for 1 – 2 years
• Mandatory substance abuse evaluation and any counseling or treatment as deemed appropriate by the office of adult probation
• Attendance at a Mother’s Against Driving “MADD” Victim Impact Panel
• 45-day license suspension followed by a 1 year requirement that you only operate a vehicle equipped with an Ignition Interlock Device 

SECOND OFFENSE DUI

• Up to 2 years in jail with 120 days jail being minimum mandatory 
• 100 hours of community service 
• Fines between $1,000 – $4,000
• Court costs and fees of approximately $365
• Probation for 2 – 3 years
• Mandatory substance abuse evaluation and any counseling or treatment as deemed appropriate by the office of adult probation
• Attendance at a Mother’s Against Driving “MADD” Victim Impact Panel
• 45-day license suspension followed by a 3-year requirement that you only operate a vehicle equipped with an Ignition Interlock Device 
  • During the first year of your IID requirement, you are only allowed to drive for work, school, drug or alcohol treatment, probation appointments and IID service appointments 

THIRD OR SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE DUI

• Up to 3 years in jail with 1-year jail being minimum mandatory 
• 100 hours of community service 
• Fines between $2,000 – $8,000
• Court costs and fees of approximately $500
• Probation for 2 – 3 years
• Mandatory substance abuse evaluation and any counseling or treatment as deemed appropriate by the office of adult probation
• Attendance at a Mother’s Against Driving “MADD” Victim Impact Panel
• Permanent loss of license 

Penalties for Failing or Refusing a Chemical Alcohol Test in Connecticut

In addition to penalties for being convicted in criminal court, Connecticut has an administrative Implied Consent Law that triggers further penalties to your driver’s license or your privilege to drive in the State of Connecticut. If you are arrested for DUI offense and either refuse or fail a blood, breath, or urine test, then you will face a 45-day administrative suspension and an IID requirement between 6 months and 3 years as follows:

Per Se Violation	1st Offense	2nd Offense	3rd Offense
Refusal to submit to a blood, breath, or urine test – regardless of age	1 year	2 years	3 years
Age 21+:  (1) Test results of .08% or higher; or (2) Test results of .04% or higher if operating a commercial vehicle	6 months	1 year	2 years
Under Age 21: Test results of .02 or higher	1 year	2 years	3 years

Possible Remedy for a First DUI Offense in Connecticut

In Connecticut if you are charged with DUI for the first time, you may qualify for court diversion through the Alcohol Education Program “AEP.” Even if the prosecutor is not willing to nolle or drop your case, and your Connecticut DUI Defense Attorney believes it may be difficult to obtain a Not Guilty verdict at trial, all hope is not lost. 

The trial court judge has discretion to grant you the Alcohol Education Program and put your prosecution on hold – even if the evidence shows that you are factually guilty of DUI. If your attorney can convince the prosecutor and the judge that you are a good candidate for the program, then it could lead to your charges being dismissed.

Generally, the court will seal your file for period of year. Provided you complete all court set requirements (usually between 10 – 15 class of Alcohol Education and a MADD Victim Impact Panel) and remain arrest free during the year, then the judge will dismiss your case at the end of the year. 

Additional Penalties for CDL Holders 

If you hold a commercial driver’s license and are arrested for DUI in Connecticut, you will be subjected to further penalties. CDL holders are not eligible to participate in the Alcohol Education and will almost certainly face prosecution. Federal Masking Statutes, in most cases, prohibit prosecutor’s from dropping or reducing DUIs for CDL holders, and similarly prevent Judges from dismissing CDL DUIs. 

In addition to the penalties to your passenger license, commercial driver’s license holders face a 1 year CDL revocation for first offense DUI and a permanent CDL revocation for any subsequent DUI violation.

The Sills Law Firm DUI Attorneys Will Fight Your DUI Penalties

While the penalties for DUI may seem very severe, there are often alternatives to jail and license suspension. The DUI Defense lawyers at The Sills Law Firm, LLC have an established record of obtaining outstanding results for our DUI clients including Not Guilty Verdicts in criminal court and license restorations at the DMV.