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Search for Connecticut DUI
Attorneys by County.
Attorney Offices by Municipality
- Berlin
- Berlin Law Offices:
People sometimes make mistakes. While we do not want you at risk driving under the influence, you may deserve a second chance if you are arrested for drunk driving. There may also have been an error or you may have refused or failed to take a breathalyzer test. You need someone to fight to keep your driving privileges.
- Bethany
- Norman Pattis:
DUI-DWI Terminology:
- DUI = Driving Under the Influence of drugs or alcohol
- DWI = Driving While Intoxicated or Driving While Imbibing
- OWI = Operating (a motor vehicle) While Intoxicated
- BAC = Blood Alcohol Content (in Connecticut, .08 is legal drunk)
- Breathalyzer = A breath test administered to measure your BAC
- Field Sobriety Test = A volunteer test requested by police offers to evaluate your sobriety - DO NOT volunteer to take these tests because they are subjective and could be used against you
- Administrative Hearing = A hearing to determine whether your driving privileges should be suspended or revoked
- Bridgeport
- Bristol
- Andre Dorval:
From initial arraignment through plea negotiations, and trial if
necessary, it is imperative that you have the counsel of an experienced
criminal attorney.
- Brooklyn
- Bushman, Douglas:
If you have been charged with Driving under the Influence (DUI), of either alcohol or drugs (legal or not)Êit is extremely important that you immediately contact a drunk driving lawyer.
In Connecticut, after you have been charged with DUI you have a right to an administrative hearing before the Department of Motor Vehicles before your driving privileges are suspended. You must request a hearing from the DMV, usually within 10 days of the charges or else your license will be automatically suspended. You will also be subject to court fines and mandatory jail time.
Under Connecticut law, operating a motor vehicle is illegal if your blood alcohol content (BAC) is over 0.08 or if you are under the influence of any drugs (legal or not), which could impair you ability to operate a vehicle. If you are a repeat DUI offender, the subsequent charge does not allow a BAC over 0.07. The state allows individuals that successfully participate in the Connecticut Alcohol Education Program to wipe their permanent record clean of a DUI offense. This is allowed 1 time every 10 years so long as there are no intervening DUI convictions.
- Danbury
- Dom Chieffalo: Aside
from expensive court costs and fines, lost wages, attorneysÕ fees, and
sky-rocketing insurance rates, an OUI conviction could even cost you
future employment opportunities.
Drunk driving charges are not the only provision of the OUI statute.
Charges may be brought for the operation of a vehicle under substances
including cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and other illegal drugs. In
addition, an OUI charge related to drugs may be accompanied by charges
like drug possession, distribution, drug trafficking, possession of a
controlled substance, and others.
If you are facing an OUI or drunk driving charge, it is imperative that
you find an experienced DWI attorney whom you can trust.
- Sharmese L. Hodge:
You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.
- Pinney,
Payne: Alcohol Education Program (AEP) This program, which is designed
for those arrested for the first time for Operating Under the Influence
(DWI), requires completion of either a 10 or 15 week group counseling
session and attendance at a Victims Impact Panel. The program fee
ranges from $425-650. After the expiration of one year, in the absence
of any additional arrests for DWI, the charge will be dismissed. If
serious physical injuries are involved, good cause must be shown before
the program will be granted. A prior conviction of Connecticuts DWI
statute, Section 14a-227a C.G.S., or a similar statute from another
state, will disqualify an applicant from getting the program. The law
does allow someone who has already successfully completed the program
more than 10 years earlier to request entry into the program again.
- Nina Trester:
Have you or a loved one been arrested for DUI? Is this a first offense
or has there been another DUI arrest in the past?
Whether this is a first, second or third arrest, you or your loved one
should consult with an attorney as soon as possible.
- East Hartford
- Brian Woolf:
Have you or has someone close to you been arrested for criminal or
serious motor vehicle charges? Have you received a surprise visit or
telephone call from law enforcement authorities asking questions about
an investigation they are conducting, which may involve you?
What you initially say and how you respond can have a profound impact
not only on the final outcome of the matter, but more importantly on
your life for a long time to come.
- Fairfield
- Ganim Law Firm:
If you have been contacted by any law enforcement agency, or if you have been arrested, you do not have to, nor should you, talk to the police without your lawyer being present.
- Victoria Ferrara:
One of the most common criminal offenses is driving under the influence (DUI). We work with people who have been arrested for DUI to help ensure they do not lose their driverÕs license. In addition, our Fairfield DUI lawyers have experience challenging DUI charges on Fourth Amendment grounds, as well as challenging field sobriety tests and breathalyzer results.
- Michael Tortora: Being charged with a crime can feel
overwhelming. Indeed, the government depends on that feeling to make it
easier for them to get a conviction. A criminal conviction can have
severe and long-lasting consequences. A conviction can result in fines,
jail and prison, loss of your drivers license, loss of certain civil
rights, and bar you from future employment and credit. It is important
to aggressively defend against a criminal charge.
- Farmington
- Levy & Droney:
As most people are aware, operating a motor vehicle while under the
influence of alcohol is a criminal offense. Although most people think
that the police must test the person's blood alcohol content in order
to obtain a conviction, that is not the case. Operating "under the
influence" may be prosecuted with or without any direct evidence of a
person's blood alcohol content. The determinative issue is whether a
person's ability to drive has been affected to an appreciable degree.
This fact be proven through direct testimony of the police officers
and/or other witnesses, without testing a person's blood alcohol
content. However, in most cases, a breathalizer test is performed to
test blood alcohol content, primarily because the refusal to take such
a test requires an automatic 180 day suspension from the Motor Vehicle
Department.
- Glastonberry
- Moriarty & Paetzold:
"DUI" stands for Driving under the Influence and occurs when someone is operating, or is in actual physical control, of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substance to the extent that their mental faculties are impaired and/or their blood alcohol content (BAC) is above the legal limit.
- John Franckling:
We all make mistakes sometimes. Should you find yourself charged with a
DUI offense, itÕs more important than ever to have legal representation
to protect your rights. The decisions you make now could affect your
driving record for many years.
- Hartford
- Marlborough
- Peter Catania: If
you have been accused or arrested for a crime, you need an attorney
that will believe in you and fight for you. Don't trust your case, and
your future, to an attorney that is just looking to collect a large fee
and get rid of your case as soon as possible.
- Meridian
- John Ghidini:
Connecticut possesses some of the toughest DUI laws in the country.Ê In Connecticut a person faces suspension of their driving privileges from the Department of Motor Vehicles and faces potential suspension of their driving privileges from the court system if convicted of DUI.Ê Given this potential double exposure, a person needs the services of a competent and able attorney.
- Gerald Harmon:
During closing arguments the prosecutor has a duty to give truthful
statements and should not attempt to mislead a jury or trial judge.
There are certain other issues that the prosecutor is prohibited from
or limited to commenting on.
- Middleton
- Fortuna & Carelli:
The Laws of the State of Connecticut impose severe penalties on those
arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. Today, even
"First Time Offenders" may be subject to heavy fines, suspension of
driver's license, probation, alcohol treatment and counseling, and even
jail time. In addition, an arrest for driving under the influence
affects driving records for 10 years! This drastically affects
automobile insurance premiums and may even result in the total loss of
existing insurance.
- Milford
- Grossman & Cohen:
If you are arrested for a criminal, DWI, or other motor vehicle
offense, you should consult your lawyer immediately. You should not
give any statement to the police until you have conferred with your
lawyer. If you confess or plead guilty to even a seemingly harmless
offense, you may seriously prejudice your legal rights.
- Milldale
- Thompson Legal Services:
Have you been arrested for DUI / DWI?
The suspension of your license is NOT automatic!
Your best defense to a DUI / DWI arrest is not to drink and drive
But if you do:
First, you need to understand that a DUI / DWI arrest is just that, an ARREST. It is NOT a conviction. However, a DUI / DWI conviction carries with it several potentially serious consequences. Your driverÕs license will likely be affected, and your insurance rates and employment status may also be affected. There is the potential for court fines and costs, along with a jail sentence and/or probation. If this is your first DUI / DWI arrest, you may be eligible for a program through the Superior Court, which could result in your avoiding the above consequences. If this is not your first DUI / DWI arrest, a conviction could result in even more severe penalties.
The above results may not necessarily occur if you are represented by an attorney experienced in this area of the law. Every detail of your arrest can be an important component in determining whether you will be convicted of DUI / DWI or not. This includes results of any breath, blood, or urine tests if taken, or the refusal to submit to any of these tests, as well as your age and the type of driverÕs license you have. If you hold a commercial drivers license, you could be subject to a one year revocation with a potential impact on your employment.
- Monroe
- John Walkley:
There are several defenses in a DUI case. If your blood alcohol count (BAC) was under the legal limit of .08, or if you were not operating a car on a public highway, the charges can be dismissed. There may also be technical defenses. If the stop of your car was illegal or the police made mistakes in the way you were arrested, the charges against you may be subject to dismissal.
- New Britain
- Advocates Law Firm:
If you have been accused of a crime, you are entitled to fight the
accusations aggressively and insist on all your constitutional rights.
Why? Because that is the law. In America, we believe in liberty and
justice for all. In America, all defendants are entitled to due process
of law, the presumption of innocence, the right to remain silent, the
right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, the right to
confront accusers, and the right to force the government to prove each
and every allegation against an accused beyond a reasonable doubt. But
there is a problem. Sometimes the government abuses its power and
ignores the mandate of liberty and justice for all. Sometimes the
government pursues too aggressively people suspected of criminal
wrongdoing. Sometimes the government accuses first and asks questions
later. Sometimes the government fails to see the real person it is
accusing of misconduct and trying to put in jail.
- New Canan
- Maddox Law Office:
A drunk driving conviction in Connecticut may result in severe
penalties and fines, as well as license suspension. In todays society,
your privilege to drive is an absolute necessity. Most people in our
communities need to drive to work and many need to be able to drive in
order to fulfill their job responsibilities. Our need to drive extends
to our daily lives as well, for such things as running errands and
making sure that our children and other family members arrive at their
appointed destinations. If you have the assistance of a skilled DWI
lawyer, your battle to retain your license following a drunk driving
charge will be much easier.
- New Haven
- New London
- New Milford
- Thomas Allingham:
It is important to understand that an arrest for driving under the
influence in Connecticut results in action in two distinct forums, the
Superior Court and the Department
of Motor Vehicles. In the Superior Court, a defendant is prosecuted for
having violated the law. In the Department of Motor Vehicles, an
operator's permit may be
suspended administratively for failing or refusing to submit to a
chemical alcohol test. Although the action in each forum is based on
the same set of facts, each forum
acts independently of the other.
- Niantic
- Stevens, Harris, Guernsey & Quilliam:
You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.
- Ronald Stevens:
After being arrested for a DUI in Connecticut, you must immediately take steps to protect yourself and
your driving privilege. No longer is drunk driving a minor charge. You need an aggressive, experienced
and seasoned lawyer who will be able to protect your rights.
- North Haven
- Duby, Christopher:
A few weeks after you have been arrested for DWI/DUI in Connecticut, you will receive a driver's license suspension notice from the Department of Motor Vehicles. Unless you act promptly to request a hearing, your driver's license will be automatically suspended.
- Giulietti and Morytko:
If you have been charged a with drunk driving and are facing a license
suspension, an experienced DUI lawyer that is up to date on
Connecticuts DUI laws, can make the difference between maintaining your
freedom and ability to drive or jail time, fines and a revoked license.
Although a DUI, formerly called a DWI, is a relatively common criminal
offense, it carries uncommonly harsh penalties and consequences.
- Norwalk
- Kimmel & Kimmel:
Alternatives to Criminal Conviction
Connecticut offers several programs designed to help avoid a conviction of certain crimes, such as DUI and drug offenses. Diversionary programs such as the Alcohol Education Program (AEP), the Community Service Labor Program, and the Drug Education Program, if successfully completed, result in the DUI or drug charges being dismissed.
These diversionary programs are often designed for first-time offenders. They often involve class time and community service. Eligibility depends on previous convictions or completion of a similar program in another state.
- Kratter & Gustafson:
If you have been arrested for DUI, you may think there is little benefit to hiring an attorney. There are effective defenses to charges of drunk driving, including challenges to evidence and police procedure.
- William Pelletreau:
Just because drunk driving is a common traffic violation, doesn't mean it is not serious. Penalties can include loss of driving privileges, stiff fines, and jail sentences. The loss of your driver's license can lead to the loss of your ability to work and earn a living. Any drunk driving conviction can put your professional license in jeopardy.
- Kimmel & Kimmel:
You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.
- Mark Krattner:
When you drink, alcohol from the drink is absorbed into your blood
stream. Various tests have been designed to measure the level of
alcohol in your blood. In Connecticut, if your blood alcohol level is
greater than .10, you are presumed to be too intoxicated to safely
operate an automobile. However, you can still be drunk even if your
blood alcohol level is less than .10. Further, in Connecticut with a
blood alcohol level of .07 or more you also may be considered legally
impaired to drive a vehicle.
- Plainville
- Thompson &
Vollono:
If you are charged with Operating While Under the Influence of Alcohol
or Drugs, and you have never been convicted of Operating Under the
Influence in Connecticut or any other state and you have never
previously used the Alcohol Education Program, then you may be eligible
for the Alcohol Education Program. This is a one year program with
required classes and possible counseling. A non refundable fee is
required to participate in this program. If this program is
successfully completed, the charges will be dismissed.
- Ridgefield
- Guistino Capodilupo:
DUI / DWI ö Careless Driving ö Drug Defense ö Juvenile Law
Being arrested and charged with a crime is a traumatic experience for anyone; a crisis for you and your family members. You face the very real chance of losing your freedom and going to jail.
- Norman
Voog: DUI, DWI, Drunk Driving: If you are facing DUI charges, you need
an experienced lawyer on your side. We will begin by investigating the
circumstances of your arrest including the field sobriety test, blood
alcohol content (BAC) tests, breathalyzer results and the reason for
the stop.
- Rocky Hill
- Steven Varney: What
happens when I get arrested?
When you get arrested, you will be assigned a court date at the police
station or at the time the police officer gives you a ticket. Criminal
(and motor vehicle) cases in Connecticutare heardeither in the U.S.
District Court (if you have been chared with a federal crime) or in a
branch of the ConnecticutSuperior Court (if you have been charged with
violating state law). All state criminal cases start (and most stay) in
what is called the Part "B" section of the Superior Court. These courts
are called "G.A" courts (for "geographic area"), and arelocated at over
20 sites throughout Connecticut. Each G.A. court has a number, like
G.A. 14 (Hartford), G.A. 15 (New Britain), etc. Each G.A. court handles
cases from certain nearby towns.
- Seymour
- Shelton
- Volman Law:
Drunk driving is a costly and serious charge. The impact of losing your
driver’s license can have a ripple effect in every area of your
life—contributing to job difficulties or job loss, marital strife, even
bankruptcy. It is important to seek an aggressive defense even if this
is a first offense DUI.
Don’t get a DUI conviction on your record if you can avoid it.
- Sabetta & Sabetta:
You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.
- South Windsor
- Edward Morelli:
You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.
- Kevin Rennie:
If you have been charged with a crime in State court, and you are
convicted you may have large fines, court costs, and even jail time
imposed upon you. A conviction can have long standing consequences.
Even a simple traffic offense or a DUI can also cause your insurance
rates to skyrocket, and may even cost you your privilege to drive. It
is important to aggressively defend against such charges. You have the
right to have your attorney at all criminal proceedings.
- Stamford
- Trumbull
- Abraham Hoffman:
A conviction on DUI/DWI charges will result in fines, driver's license
suspension or revocation, and possibly land you in jail. In addition,
your insurance company may increase your rates to an unmanageable
level. In defending against an impaired driving charge, you have many
rights as a criminal defendant, including the right to cross-examine
the witnesses against you, even if they are police officers. Consulting
an experienced attorney ... can make all the difference.
- Wallingford
- Carbutti & Pappas: A conviction for drunk
driving (DUI) in Connecticut carries serious and long term
consequences. A first offense can result in large fines, loss of your
drivers license, community service, probation, and even jail time. A
second offense can result in large fines, lengthy suspension of your
drivers license, and mandatory jail time. A third or subsequent DUI is
a felony and will result in jail time, a felony criminal record, loss
of certain civil rights, and loss of your drivers license for a minimum
of one year. You must take a DUI charge seriously because the police,
prosecutors, and judges take DUI seriously.
- Waterbury
- Garver, Scott:
If you are accused of a crime or being investigated of a crime the first person you need to talk to is an experienced CT Criminal Defense Attorney. Whether you are guilty or innocent it is important that you know and exercise your legal rights when speaking to police investigators. Too often people unintentionally incriminate themselves when they do no need to. Call an experienced defense attorney before you agree to speak to the police or any other investigators.
- Michael Gannon:
Pursuant to FRE 609, evidence of a witness's prior felony convictions
may be admissible to impeach the credibility of the witness, as long as
the probative value of the evidence is not substantially outweighed by
the danger of unfair prejudice. Similarly, evidence of a defendant's
prior felony convictions may be admissible to impeach the credibility
of the defendant, if the court determines that the probative value of
the evidence outweighs its prejudicial effect to the accused. This is a
less restrictive measure than the one required for witnesses, which
means that it is easier to impeach a defendant with evidence of a prior
felony conviction than it is to impeach another witness. Further,
evidence that any witness (including the defendant) has been convicted
of any crime of dishonesty is admissible for impeachment purposes.
However, a prior conviction that is more than 10 years old will usually
be inadmissible, unless the court determines that the probative value
of the conviction substantially outweighs its prejudicial effect. In
this case, the proponent of the evidence must give the other party
"sufficient advance written notice of intent to use such evidence."
- West Hartford
- Doris D'Ambrosio:
You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.
- Ralph Sherman
Going to criminal court without an attorney is like hiking in the
jungle without a guide. Even if you have never been arrested before,
you need an attorney to protect your rights. It is NOT the prosecutor's
job to look out for you. The only person who's going to help you in
criminal court is your own attorney. This is true even for DWI and some
other motor-vehicle charges.
- Westport
- Sheriff & Sheriff:
Drunk driving is technically referred to as DWI which stands for driving under the
influence of alcohol or a controlled substance to the extent that your normal
faculties are impaired. Even though most people arrested for DWI are generally nice
people in the wrong place at the wrong time, DWI has long been considered a
serious threat to public safety. This is because DWIs can kill people.
- Willimantic
- Jerome Paun:
Please do not talk to the police with out a criminal defense attorney
present. You have a Constitutional right to remain silent. Many
people have sacrificed and died to secure this important right.
You have a right to be represented by a lawyer if you are
arrested. Please exercise your rights.
If the police ask, you should identify yourself. After that you
should politely tell the police you do not want to speak to them
anymore without a lawyer present. Then remain silent until you
have consulted with a criminal defense lawyer.
Criminal accusations and charges are extremely serious. Jail
time, large fines and a criminal record can alter the course of your
entire life. You need a knowledgeable and dedicated criminal defense
lawyer to vigorously defend your rights.
- Prue, Lavigne & Bacharach:
An officer must have probable cause to administer field sobriety tests
(walk a straight line, recite the alphabet, etc.), or to ask you to
submit to
a breathalyzer test. If you are pulled over for a reason (speeding,
running a red light, etc.) and the officer smells alcohol, observes
bloodshot
eyes, slurred speech, or other signs of intoxication, he or she has
probable cause to administer these tests. If the officer asks you to
take a
breathalyzer, you can refuse. However, refusal leads to an automatic
six-month suspension of your license. Taking the exam and being found
intoxicated results in a 90 day suspension.
Brought to you by Colorado DUI Drunk Driving Defense
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