The Consequences of a DUI Conviction

 Posted on May 21, 2014 in Driving Under the Influence

There are serious repercussions for those convicted of a DUI in Connecticut. Fines may include prison terms, fines, and license suspensions. Under state law, offenders aged 21 or older will have a minimum license suspension of 45 days. If you have been charged with driving under the influence, you need to contact an attorney as soon as possible.

First time offenders may be eligible to drive after their suspension period ends, but only with an ignition interlock-equipped vehicle. First time offenders will drive with an ignition interlock device for a period of one year, and second time offenders will drive with an ignition interlock device for three years. Second time offenders are only allowed to drive to school, work, an alcohol or drug treatment program, or the ignition interlock service center in the first year of the interlock period.

If you have been convicted of a DUI for the third time, the DMV is required to revoke your license. A driver might be eligible to get his or her license restored after a period of a few years, but this agreement requires compliance with lifelong interlock device driving.

One of the most important parts of your case is determining that evidence is admissible. The standard of evidence in these cases depends on whether or not the driver was injured. A driver must have been given a reasonable opportunity to contact an attorney before taking the blood alcohol test. The test results must have been mailed or personally delivered to the driver by the next business day, and the test must have been administered by a police officer or under a police officer’s discretion. Test types can include blood, breath, or urine, and the test equipment must be accurate. If you have been charged with a DUI, contact a Connecticut criminal defense attorney to ensure that your rights are represented.