Connecticut Driving Under the Influence

By Kirsten E. Bennett on January 13, 2020

Motorists who choose to drive while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs in Connecticut face serious consequences.  In addition to  being charged with a criminal offense, a motorist will face additional  DMV penalties which are administrative in nature, and separate and apart from any criminal case pending in the Superior Court. 

Listed below are an outline of the penalties you will face upon being convicted of a DUI.

First Offense

For conviction of a first violation, (A) Get fined not less than five hundred dollars or more than one thousand dollars. (B) Get (i) imprisoned not more than six months, forty-eight consecutive
hours of which may not get suspended or reduced in any manner, or (ii) imprisoned not more than six months, with the execution of such sentence of imprisonment suspended entirely and a period of probation imposed requiring as a condition of such probation that such person perform one hundred hours of community service, as defined in section 14-227e. (C) Have such person’s motor vehicle operator’s license or nonresident operating privilege suspended for one year.

Second Offense

For conviction of a second violation within ten years after a prior conviction for the same offense:

(A) Get fined not less than one thousand dollars or more than four thousand dollars.

(B) Get imprisoned not more than two years. One hundred twenty consecutive days of this sentence may not get suspended or reduced in any manner. Also, you face a period of probation and one hundred hours of community service, as defined in section 14-227e, and

(C) (i) Have such person’s motor vehicle operator’s license or nonresident operating privilege suspended for three years or until the date of such person’s twenty-first birthday, whichever is longer, or (ii) if such person has been convicted of a violation of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section on account of being under the influence of intoxicating liquor or of subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section, have such person’s motor vehicle operator’s license or nonresident operating privilege suspended for one year and be prohibited for the two-year period following completion of such period of suspension from operating a motor vehicle unless such motor vehicle is equipped with a functioning, approved ignition interlock device, as defined in section 14-227j.

Third Offense

For conviction of a third and subsequent violation within ten years after a prior conviction for the same offense:

(A) Get fined not less than two thousand dollars or more than eight thousand dollars.

(B) Get imprisoned not more than three years. One year of this may not get suspended or reduced in any manner. Also, you face a period of probation requiring as a condition of such probation that such person perform one hundred hours of community service, as defined in section 14-227e, and

(C) Have such person’s motor vehicle operator’s license or nonresident operating privilege permanently revoked upon such third offense. For purposes of the imposition of penalties for a second or third and subsequent offense pursuant to this subsection, a conviction under the provisions of subsection (a) of this section in effect on October 1, 1981, or as amended thereafter, a conviction under the provisions of either subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of this section, a conviction under the provisions of section 53a-56b or 53a-60d or a conviction in any other state of any offense the essential elements of which are determined by the court to be substantially the same as subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of this section or section 53a-56b or 53a-60d, shall constitute a prior conviction for the same offense.