DUI Rights Help in Connecticut – Connecticut DUI Laws
Have you recently been pulled over and cited for an Connecticut DUI Offense? If you’ve just been charged with this offense it’s absolutely critical that you learn how to protect not only your freedom but your driving privilege, future employment opportunities, auto insurance payments and criminal record as well. More importantly there is immediate action you can take to save your license and then minimize the damage done to your personal life so that you will be be able to clear the Connecticut DUI from your record completely.
How to Challenge Your Impending DUI Charges
After your arrest and being formally charged, you will need to quickly begin the process to fight the charges and get your life back on track. At DUIRights.com, we pride ourselves on looking at each offender’s individual case and helping them to conclude if their rights were violated and determining the best ways to fight their charges in court.
It is a well-known fact that, in some DUI or DWI arrests, the individual’s rights have been violated in one way or another. While this may be true, it is also important to keep in mind that having your rights violated does not make you an innocent person. Regardless of where in Connecticut the arrest and charges are taking place – Hartford, New Haven, Stamford, Bridgeport or any of the other cities – it is possible to have the case evaluated free of charge in an attempt to build a strong defense and secure the best possible outcome.
By having the DUI or DWI case evaluated by a legal professional, they will be able to let you know what circumstances of the arrest will work in your favor and what will work against you. Since the attorney will have a breadth of knowledge of DUI laws and penalties specific to the state of Connecticut, it is much more possible for them to find flaws in the case that will help them build a case to either have your charges reduced, be able to arrange a plea bargain for lesser penalties, or have the case dismissed.
Were Your Rights Violated?
One way that a DUI attorney can help to get your charges reduced or case dismissed is by proving your rights were violated in some way. In order to determine if they were, you need to know what they are. Here are some questions you can ask yourself to see if your rights were violated:
- Was there probable cause for the officer to stop your vehicle?
- Were you behind the wheel of the car? Did the officer witness you driving?
- Did inclement weather affect the outcome of any sobriety testing?
- Were your rights explained to you? Did the officer recite your Miranda Rights?
- Were there any witnesses to your behavior other than the officer’s? Were their observations consistent?
Answering these questions with your attorney will help you to determine whether or not your rights were violated in any way, helping to add more ammunition to your legal defense.
Protect your rights and learn how to get your Connecticut DUI charges dismissed. Get Started Now by filling out the Free DUI Arrest Evaluation form to get the answers you need.
No matter how guilty you may think you were at the time of the arrest, we want you to know one important thing: There is ALWAYS an aggressive and effective defense that will help you fight for the best possible outcome. In our experience, many officers do not follow proper field sobriety test procedures. In fact, challenging probable cause and the way field sobriety tests, blood tests and breath tests were administered is often a successful strategy to reduce or drop the charges. Also, many people plead guilty prematurely based on a breath test with a result above the legal limit. This is a common and costly mistake, as there are a variety of ways in having the breath test suppressed as we will show you how to do.
DUI Laws in Connecticut
How much do you have to drink to be considered DUI in Connecticut? How much money will you have to pay in fines? Will you go to jail? To answer all your questions about Connecticut DUI laws, read on…
Consequences for Refusing to Take Chemical Tests
Everyone has the right to refuse to take chemical tests if arrested for a DUI in Connecticut, but there are fines and penalties in place to exercise this right.
- First offense – six-month license suspension
- Second offense – one-year license suspension
- Third offense – three-year license suspension
Challenging BAC Levels in Court
Connecticut uses the general BAC (blood alcohol content) levels that are used throughout the United states. If you do take the chemical tests, your attorney may be able to challenge these results in court based on when and how the tests were administered.
- Drivers that are 21 years or older, .08 percent
- Drivers under the age of 21, .02 percent
- Commercial drivers, .04 percent
Is There Mandatory Jail Time Required for a DUI in Connecticut?
Drink, drive, and get arrested in Connecticut, and you are going to go to jail. While the first violation can be rather short, second and third violations require significant time behind bars.
- First time offenders – minimum of two days and a maximum of six months in jail
- Second time offenders – minimum of 120 days and a maximum of two years in jail
- Third time offenders – minimum of one year and a maximum of three years in jail
Connecticut has a 10-year washout period for DUI sentencing.
Monetary Fines and Penalties for DUI in Connecticut
Monetary fines in Connecticut escalate rather quickly with first-time offenders facing up to $1,000.
- First offense – minimum of $500 and up to $1,000 fine
- Second offense – minimum of $1,000 and up to $4,000 fine
- Third offense – minimum of $2,000 and up to $8,000 fine
License Suspension for DUI in Connecticut
Any DUI violation will result in a license suspension in the state of Connecticut:
- First offense – one-year suspension
- Second offense – one-year suspension
- Third offense – permanent loss of license
IID installation is not required for first time offenders. Second offenders must have an ignition interlock device installed.
Finding a DUI Attorney in Connecticut
With permanent loss of license the penalty for a third violation, we would think anyone arrested in Connecticut for a DUI would want the best representation he or she can afford when appearing in court. To find a qualified DUI attorney in Connecticut, you can visit DUIRights.com. You will not only find local attorneys, but can also submit your case details for a free case evaluation.