• State Penal Code – GSC section 14-227a
• Open Container Laws – None
• Repeat Offender Laws – Yes
• Check Points – Yes
• Alcohol Exclusion Laws Limiting Treatment – None

There are four main factors that determine the severity of the penalties incurred:

1. The age of the driver
2. The substance impairing you. This may be drugs, or alcohol, or both
3. The category of your driver’s license (Restricted, CDL)
4. Whether you refused a chemical test

– Every state has some version of the “Implied Consent” law

– This law carries serious consequences for refusing a chemical test

– The penalties for refusing a chemical test in Connecticut are:

1st Refusal

• 6 month license suspension

2nd Refusal

• 1 year license suspension

3rd Refusal

• 3 year license suspension

In Connecticut the lookback period is 10 years
Any arrest for DUI/DWI within 10 years of your first offense results in higher penalties

Drivers under 21 with a BAC of .02% or more will be charged with DUI/DWI
A BAC of .08% and above will result in the same penalties as drivers 21 and over

• As of July 1st, 2015, all drivers that register as intoxicated in the state of Connecticut are subject to the same set of DUI/DWI penalties.
• The sections below will suffice in covering the entirety of Connecticut DUI/DWI penalties.

1st Offense

• 1 year suspension of driver’s license

• fines ranging anywhere from $500 – $1000

• Prison (2 day minimum, 6 month maximum)

2nd Offense

• 1 year license suspension

• fines ranging anywhere from $1000 – $4000

• Prison (120 days minimum, 2 year maximum)

• Installation of an Ignition Interlock Device

• For Aggravated DUI/DWI, Connecticut adds a “per se” penalty
• This is an administrative penalty imposed by the DMV which is apart from, and in addition to whatever criminal penalties you are subject to
• This penalty comes in the form of drivers license suspension
• A single offense carries a 120 day penalty, and a subsequent offense carries a 10 month penalty

• In some cases, you may apply to the court for admission into a Pretrial Alcohol Education Program.
• If approved, you will pay $100 admission fee, as well as another $100 evaluation fee.
• Upon successful completion of this program, you may appeal to the court for a dismissal of charges, which may be granted in certain instances.

• Those with a commercial driver’s license (CDL) are held to a stricter standard.
• Accordingly, their BAC threshold is significantly lower (0.04%), and the penalties incurred are often much more severe.
• An initial DUI conviction in a commercial or passenger vehicle will result in a one year CDL revocation.
• A second DUI conviction in a commercial or passenger vehicle will result in a permanently revoked CDL.

• SR-22 Insurance is a requirement in many states as a condition of restoring your driving privileges
• Most, but not all states have SR-22 statutes
• In Connecticut an SR-22 must be filed with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) before your driving privileges can be restored
• You must maintain your SR-22 for a period of 3 years following the restoration of your driving privileges
• Should you lapse at any point, your insurance company will inform the DMV and your license will be revoked

• Wet Reckless is a general term that refers to a plea bargain that may reduce the severity of the charge against you
• Connecticut does allow for plea bargains in DUI/DWI cases
• It can only be pleaded down to reckless driving
• This allows you to avoid a criminal record
• Any subsequent DUI/DWI arrests within the look-back period will reverse the original plea bargain
• The reckless driving will revert back to a full DUI/DWI conviction and lead to enhanced penalties in this case
• This plea bargain is typically only allowed for first time offenders with no aggravating factors involved