Bridgeport DUI Lawyer
Driving under the influence (“DUI”) is one of the most commonly charged crimes, not just in Connecticut, but all over the United States. It can be one of the trickiest criminal allegations to fight in court because of how subjective a DUI arrest can be. The prosecutors and Courts tend to trust the testimony of police officers over testimony presented by defendants.
Fortunately, if you are facing DUI charges of any kind, you have help available from an experienced and tenacious Bridgeport DUI lawyer that has successfully handled many similar cases, for over 27 years. Even if you have past DUI convictions on your record, the assistance of a skilled criminal defense attorney can make a significant difference in the way your criminal case moves forward and the consequences you may ultimately face as a result of the accusations filed against you.
When Can Police Arrest Someone for a DUI?
As established under Connecticut General Statutes (“C.G.S.”) § 14-227a, someone can be charged with a DUI if they operate a motor vehicle with a measured blood alcohol concentration (“BAC”) of 0.08 percent or greater or while noticeably impaired. Police officers can test a driver’s BAC through breath, saliva, or blood testing. They can also determine impairment with or without a BAC measurement based on their own observations as well as a defendant’s performance during a field sobriety test.
Notably, this same statute sets a BAC limit of 0.04 percent for people with commercial driver’s licenses who are operating any kind of commercial vehicle. Subsequent sections of state law impose the same restrictions on people driving school buses or operating any other vehicle with minor children aboard.
Additionally, C.G.S. § 14-227g specifically prohibits people under 21 years of age from driving with a BAC equal to or exceeding 0.02 percent, as a Bridgeport DUI attorney can further explain during a confidential consultation.
Increasing Penalties for Repeat Offenses
Someone without any prior DUI convictions on their record may face a maximum punishment upon conviction of $500 to $1,000 in fines, a forty-five day driver’s license suspension, mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device on each motor vehicle owned or operated by such person for a period of one year; either a six-month jail term, suspended after forty-eight consecutive hours of imprisonment, or a six months jail term, fully suspended, when paired with 100 mandatory community service hours; and a term of probation imposing conditions, which include and are not limited to, alcohol abuse evaluation and treatment.
Someone convicted of DUI a second time within 10 years of their first conviction may face more serious penalties of $1,000 to $4,000 in fines, a forty-five day driver’s license suspension, mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device on each motor vehicle owned or operated by such person for a period of three years, and for the first year of that third-year period, said person’s operation of a motor vehicle must be limited only to or from work or school, an alcohol or drug abuse treatment program, an ignition interlock device service center or an appointment with a probation officer; a minimum term of imprisonment of one hundred and twenty days and up to two years of imprisonment, followed by a term of probation imposing conditions, which include and are not limited to, alcohol abuse evaluation and treatment.
Finally, a third DUI conviction within a single 10-year period will result in permanent license revocation, $2,000 to $8,000 in fines, and a minimum of one year in jail and up to three years in jail, followed by a term of probation imposing conditions, which include and are not limited to, alcohol abuse evaluation and treatment. Support from a knowledgeable DUI defense lawyer in Bridgeport can be especially vital to fighting back against charges of this nature and minimizing the long-term impact of a possible conviction.
Get Help From a Bridgeport DUI Attorney Today
Both criminal courts and law enforcement authorities in Connecticut take DUI offenses very seriously. That does not mean it is impossible to effectively fight back against a DUI charge, especially if you have support from a dependable legal team along the way.
A Bridgeport DUI lawyer from Mark Sherman Law can be the steadfast ally you need to achieve the best possible outcome from your situation. Call today to schedule an initial meeting, and click here to read what past clients have said about working with us on our Avvo.com profile.