Compounding Penalties For Consecutive Connecticut DUI Convictions

If you have already been convicted for Driving Under the Influence in Connecticut, you already know how seriously our state takes DUIs. You are likely all too familiar with the severe penalties for a drunk driving conviction, but you might not be aware of how much worse things can get if you are convicted on subsequent DUI charges.

If you have never been convicted, but have been arrested for DUI in Connecticut, the increasingly severe penalties are one of the strongest arguments for fighting the conviction in the first place. Because if you do not, and get arrested again, the stakes will be even higher, and you could end up convicted of a felony.

In New London, Pomfret Center, Norwich and across Connecticut, you can count on DUI defense attorney Steven Tomeo to do everything in his power to stop that from happening. If you or a loved one is charged with a DUI, for the first time or as a repeat offender, it’s time to call his office and fight the charges!

What Is The Time Frame For Multiple Offense DUIs?

Connecticut courts have a long memory; any previous DUI conviction within the last 10 years is enough to increase the penalties of a new conviction. If you are arrested again for drunk driving within that decade-long time span, you will be treated as a repeat offender.

This is a status no one wants, as it doesn’t just encourage law enforcement to treat you more harshly, it requires them to do so. Prosecutors and judges, in particular, are required to demand and impose more severe penalties and sentences.

That said, there is always some room for negotiation, and often an angle from which to contest the charges or defend against them, assuming you have a competent and experienced DUI defense lawyer by your side to do so.

What Are The Potential Consequences For A Second DUI Conviction?

In Connecticut, a second DUI conviction is already enough to be treated as a multiple offender. A multiple offense DUI is a felony charge, while a first offense DUI is only a misdemeanor. Which means that if you are convicted of a second one within 10 years, you will be a convicted felon for life, with all of the social and economic consequences that come with it.

In addition, you will be facing heavier penalties than a first offense DUI, notably:

• A mandatory minimum of four months in jail, and up to two years.
• Fines of up to 4,000$ in addition to other costs, such as the towing expense on your car.
• Up to 3 years probation and 100 hours of community service.
• Completion of substance abuse treatment programs and victim impact panels.

Your driver’s license and driving privileges will also be more severely impacted:

• Suspension of your driver’s license for up to a year.
• Limited driving privileges (with Ignition Interlock Device requirements, at your own expense) for up to two years after that.

And of course, a second conviction means the possibility of facing a third, with even greater criminal penalties and consequences on your ability to drive, sometimes for the rest of your life.

What Are The Potential Consequences For A Third DUI Conviction?

A third conviction within 10 years cements your status as a multiple offender, and the judicial system has very little tolerance for such behavior. The penalties are especially high for a third offense DUI conviction in Connecticut, though it is still possible to defend against the charge and avoid some or all of the consequences.

For a third offense DUI conviction in Connecticut, you will face:

• A minimum of one year in jail, with a maximum sentence of three years.
• Up to 8,000$ in fines in addition to other expenses.
• Up to three years of probation.
• Another 100 hours of community service and more rehabilitation and victim awareness programs to complete.

However, for many drivers, the worst part of a third DUI conviction is the potential impact on their ability to keep driving:

• The permanent revocation of your driver’s license and driving privileges.

Since a third conviction removes your ability to drive, there are no explicit penalties for a fourth or subsequent DUI convictions. Suffice to say, if you are caught driving drunk again, you will not be looking at DUI penalties, but far more severe felonies.

While it is theoretically possible to eventually have some driving privileges reinstated after at least one year, and often up to six years after your third conviction, doing so is neither easy nor guaranteed. Better to avoid the conviction in the first place by making sure you have explored every legal defense with the help of an experienced Connecticut DUI defense lawyer like Steven Tomeo.

The Second Best Method To Avoid A Multiple Offense Felony DUI Conviction

The best way to avoid being convicted of a second or third DUI within ten years is, of course, never to be convicted of a DUI in the first place. DUI defense attorneys like Steven Tomeo in Connecticut work hard to ensure that police and prosecutors are held to exacting standards for arrests and show leniency whenever possible through carefully negotiated plea deals that avoid the worst consequences or result in charges being reduced.

While it is better to employ such methods to avoid a first conviction, they can work just as well on second- or even third-offense DUI charges. The fight is harder, and the stakes higher, but with more of your future and freedom on the line, even if you did not work with a DUI defense lawyer the first time around, you should absolutely do so now.

In Connecticut, Steven Tomeo is one of the most experienced DUI defense attorneys you can reach out to, with countless cases under his belt. A former police prosecutor, he is now a published author on DUI law and is committed to ensuring that everyone receives the full protection they are entitled to under the law.

Call Today To Prevent Escalating DUI Consequences In Connecticut

If you or someone you love is facing a second or even third DUI offense in Connecticut, there is no time to lose. You already know what is at stake and how important a strong defense can be to protecting your future, freedom, and driving privileges.

Call Steven A Tomeo and Associates to get one of the state’s fiercest DUI defense lawyers on your side. A straight-talker who will not sugarcoat anything, you can be sure that after just one consultation with attorney Tomeo, you will know where you stand and what can be done to help avoid Connecticut’s harsh and escalating DUI penalties.

Do not delay. Call (860) 963-7441 today to schedule that consultation and protect your license.