Darien DUI Penalties
Local police take DUI arrests very seriously. When a driver’s blood alcohol content is 0.08 percent or higher, you can get arrested for drunk driving. Drivers who have not yet reached the age of 21 are legally intoxicated for purposes of a DUI charge if found to have a blood alcohol content of 0.02 percent.
As experienced DUI lawyers can explain, Connecticut is an implied consent state. This means that by virtue of driving a vehicle within its borders, a motor vehicle operator effectively agrees to undergo blood, urine or breath testing for purposes of detecting illegal amounts of drugs or alcohol.
Refusal to submit to such testing could result in severe Darien DUI penalties. Consequences could include up to a one-year suspension of driving privileges within 30 days of the arrest itself. Suspensions related to alcohol will also trigger the installation of an ignition interlock device on the offender’s vehicle.
What Are the Long-Term Consequences of Possible DUI Conviction?
Though driving after having a few too many drinks is something many have done at one time or another, being arrested and charged with DUI must never be taken lightly. DUI penalties associated with a first offense in Darien can bring upwards of six months in jail, lengthy community service requirements, fines of up to $1, 000 and license suspension lasting one year.
What Are the Penalties in Darien for Second or Repeat DUI Offenders?
Subsequent DUI offenses within ten years yield even more severe sanctions, with a second offense resulting in two years of incarceration, fines of up to $4000 and three years of license suspension. Third offenses bring even longer terms of imprisonment as well as permanent license revocation.
Drunk driving that results in serious injury or death to others can produce even more serious penalties, and the ancillary effects of conviction on a DUI charge can make life extremely difficult for years to come. The penalties in Darien for repeat DUI offenders may include:
- Job loss
- Financial fines
- Increased insurance costs
- Suspension/revocation of professional licenses
- Difficulty obtaining security clearances and future employment
- Social stigma
- Immigration status implications
- Familial disruptions
Common Defenses to Mitigate Drunk Driving Penalties
Though a DUI charge can create a great deal of uncertainty and fear in the mind of any defendant, it is important for those individuals in Darien to bear in mind that a number of potentially effective defense strategies can potentially combat drunk driving penalties. It may be possible for a DUI lawyer to:
- Raise serious questions about the constitutionality of the initial traffic stop and subsequent searches
- Question the accuracy of blood, breath or urine testing methods and reporting
- Introduce doubt as to evidence handling methods employed by law enforcement
- Present evidence about the defendant’s medical status which may call sobriety test results into serious question
Speak with a Darien Attorney for Help Fighting DUI Penalties
It is impossible to dispute just how much is at risk for defendants in DUI cases. The potential loss of personal freedom, reputational cost (both online and offline), and the ability to earn a living can take years to overcome. If you are facing Darien DUI penalties, call our team of defense attorneys today.