Connecticut’s Drunk Driving Laws and the Department of Motor Vehicles

The facts are...

Driving is a privilege, and under Connecticut's Implied Consent Law any person who operates a motor vehicle is presumed to have given his or her consent to a test to determine blood alcohol concentration (BAC).

You are legally intoxicated if your BAC is .08 or above. If you are under 21 years of age, you are legally intoxicated at a .02 BAC or higher.

Connecticut has enacted strong new measures to combat impaired driving. Stiff penalties, including mandatory sentencing and strict enforcement of our laws send a clear message:

Driving under the influence will not be tolerated on Connecticut's roadways.

Driving Under the Influence (DUI)

In Connecticut, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs is a criminal offense. This offense may be prosecuted with or without any direct evidence of a person's BAC. The determining factor is whether a person's ability to drive has been impaired.

If You are Arrested for DUI:

• You will be detained by the police and read your rights.
• Your vehicle will be towed at your expense.
• You will be taken in a police cruiser to the police station.
• You will be asked to submit to a BAC test. If you refuse, your license will be suspended for a minimum of 6 months.
• If the test registers a BAC of .08 or higher, you will be held on the presumption that you were operating under the influence.
• You will be kept in a police lock-up until you are bailed out.

Two ways to lose your license:

There are two laws to protect citizens of Connecticut from the impaired driver:

• Administrative Per Se Through DMV
• Criminal Penalties Through Court

Alcohol Affects Driving Ability

Any amount of alcohol will affect driving ability. Alcohol's effect is magnified by emotions, physical condition, use of prescription drugs or other types of drugs, some over-the-counter medications and some herbal supplements.