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    First DUI Offense in Connecticut

    Any expert in Connecticut DWI / DUI law would agree that the most common defense strategy used to resolve a Stamford or Greenwich CGS 14-227a DWI / DUI charge is to get your client admitted into Connecticut’s Impaired Driver Intervention Program (IDIP). This is a DUI / DWI first-time offender’s program unique to the state. It is a privilege, however–not an automatic right—so it’s recommended you hire a top Connecticut DUI attorney to first, assist you in preparing your IDIP program application, and second, argue your application at the hearing where you could be met with strong resistance from both the prosecutors and any victims of your Connecticut drunk driving arrest.

    So if you have been arrested for a DUI in a Connecticut town or city, and are interested in learning more about the available first time offender’s programs, you should call a top Connecticut first time DUI attorney to ensure you have the best chances of getting the IDIP  First Time Offenders Program which, if successfully completed, will result in the complete dismissal and erasure of your DWI / DUI charges.

    What is the Definition of DUI / DWI under Connecticut Law?

    Pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. §14-227a, the Connecticut legislature has made it a crime to operate a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs or while having an elevated blood alcohol content (BAC) of at least 0.08 for most drivers.  For those driving commercial vehicles, it is a crime to have an elevated BAC of 0.04, and 0.02 for drivers who are not yet 21 years of age.

    What Will Happen to My License After a DUI in Connecticut?

    Arrests for suspected operation of a vehicle while under the influence will set two distinct proceedings into motion, the one relating to the criminal charge issued and also an administrative proceeding through the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

    While the criminal allegations can yield jail time, fines and other sanctions, the DMV process can result in suspension of the accused party’s operator’s license and the installation of an ignition interlock device.

    What are the Penalties for DUI in Connecticut?

    Though it is certainly true that the punishments for DUI / DWI offenses escalate with the commission of subsequent crimes in the same category, even a first offense can produce very serious consequences that can take a great deal of time to overcome.

    A first offense DUI conviction is likely to yield a sentence of six months incarceration, a fine of up to $1,000, a driver’s license suspension lasting 45 days, ignition interlock device installed for a full year and also a term of probationary supervision, services for which fees can rapidly begin to mount.

    The Basics – What Is the Impaired Driver Intervention Program (IDIP)?

    The Pre-Trial Impaired Driver Intervention Program (frequently referred to as the “IDIP” or “AE Program”) is a Connecticut Diversionary Program that gives certain drivers who are charged with the crime of Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated or Driving Under the Influence, DUI/DWI, a second chance. The program is codified in C.G.S. § 54-56g.

    The Impaired Driver Intervention Program requires defendants to complete weekly one-hour long classes over a 10 or 15 week period. The length of the program depends on the results of an evaluation you are required to attend during the application process. All you need to do is show up on time for these classes. There are no tests, exams, pop quizzes, or drug / alcohol urine or breath tests. However, with the absurd and chronic traffic problems in Southern Connecticut, especially on Interstate 95 and the Merritt Parkway, showing up on time can become a problem so be sure to sign up for Impaired Driving Intervention classes at a time when you know you will not have any tardiness issues.

    In addition to the weekly classes, the Impaired Driver Intervention Program requires you to attend a Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Victim Impact Panel.

    If you complete the court-ordered requirements of the Impaired Driver Intervention Program, your Connecticut DUI / DWI 14-227a charges will be dismissed by the Court and effectively “erased” from your criminal arrest record.

    The IDIP Application Process

    If you have been charged with CGS 14-227a DUI in CT then you may be eligible for Impaired Driving Intervention classes. Getting the IDIP is neither automatic nor guaranteed. The application process is broken into two three stages: the application hearing, an eligibility screening process, followed by an adversarial hearing in front of a Superior Court judge.

    Eligibility Step 1 – Applying in Court for the Connecticut DUI / DWI First Time Offenders IDIP Program

    Eligibility screening is the first step in getting you the Impaired Driver Intervention Program. The Court must determine if your charges are in fact eligible for the program. Eligible charges include:

        • C.G.S. § 14-227a – Operation while under the influence or while having an elevated blood alcohol content. Note, however, that the IDIP is not available to (a) drivers charged with DUI / DWI while operating a commercial motor vehicle or while holding a commercial driver’s license or commercial driver’s instruction permit, (b) drivers who have used the IDIP in the 10-year period prior to their application; and (c) any driver with a prior misdemeanor or felony DWI conviction in Connecticut or any other state;
        • C.G.S. § 14-227g – Under 21 DWI / DUI. Operation by a person under 21 years of age while their blood alcohol content exceeds .02;
        • C.G.S. § 15-133 – Boating While intoxicated (“BWI / BUI”) or Operation of vessel while under the influence of liquor or drugs.

    At your court appearance, your Connecticut first time DUI lawyer will submit the written application for the Impaired Driver Intervention Program on your behalf. At this court appearance, the judge will ask you to swear under oath to the following: (i) that you have never applied for or used the IDIP in the past 10 years (or a similar program in another state), and (ii) that you have never been convicted of a drunk driving offense. (You will not be asked any questions relating to the facts surrounding your arrest). If you are at all unsure as to whether the answer to these questions is “no”, then you need to talk to your Stamford DUI / DWI lawyer before your case is called. A dishonest or even mistaken answer to these two questions can result in felony perjury charges.

    The court will then set a date for a hearing on your application which usually takes place 4 to 6 weeks from the date of your application. Immediately following your courtroom appearance, you will proceed to the clerk’s office where you will pay a $200 application fee, followed by a brief meeting with your attorney and the Bail Commissioner to set a date for an eligibility screening interview at the State-contracted IDIP facility, usually Connecticut Renaissance or Crossroads. This interview will take place 2 to 3 weeks from your court appearance.

    Eligibility Step 2 – The Screening Interview at Connecticut Renaissance / Crossroads

    Your screening interview will take place at the IDIP facility. This will be a 20-30 minute interview with a counselor from Connecticut Renaissance or Crossroads, who will be evaluating whether you should be placed in their 10-week or 15-week program. There are no wrong answers here; however, the best Greenwich and Stamford Connecticut DUI / DWI 14-227a lawyers will usually recommend to their clients to discuss this interview with your criminal attorney prior to attending this evaluation.

    Eligibility Step 3 – The Court Hearing on Your Impaired Driver Intervention Program

    At the next court date, you will learn if the Bail Commissioner’s Office has determined that you are eligible for the IDIP, and your Connecticut first time DUI / DWI criminal lawyer will attend and participate in a hearing in Superior Court on the sole issue of whether you should receive the program. The State’s Attorney’s Office (i.e., the prosecutors) will be asked to declare their position to the Court and explain if and why they are objecting to your admission into the Impaired Driver Intervention Program.

    As a matter of practice, prosecutors typically object to program applications when one or more of the following factors are involved in a DUI / DWI case:

        • High Blood Alcohol Content readings and levels;
        • High rates of speed involved during a DUI / DWI arrest;
        • DUI / DWI arrests with other passengers in the car (especially children);
        • DUI / DWI car accidents causing property damage or personal injury;
        • Refusal of the breath test (as they believe you are intentionally hiding a high Blood Alcohol Content level);
        • Cases where the alleged victims of your DUI / DWI are objecting or have suffered financial loss or other hardship as a result of your conduct; and
        • DUI / DWI arrests that involve allegations of disrespect, abuse or assault on police officers.

    At this hearing, the court can hear testimony from your criminal lawyer, the prosecution, any alleged victims of your DUI / DWI (who must be notified of the date and time of this hearing), and in some cases, any arresting officers. The court will take into consideration several factors when deciding whether or not to grant you the IDIP program such as your personal and professional history, the strengths and weaknesses of the prosecution’s case against you, your level of contrition and remorse, the risk you pose to re-offend, the Bail Commissioner’s recommendations, the rate of speed your vehicle was traveling, your driving history, your criminal record, your age, and other factors that will be vetted out in Court at this hearing.

    The best Connecticut DUI / DWI 14-227a attorneys would agree that this application hearing is critical: if you are granted the Impaired Driver Intervention Program, then you have a chance of wiping your record clean of your DUI / DWI arrest and charges. If you are denied the program, then you will have to fight the charges, may have to go to trial, or might have to enter into plea bargain negotiations. In this latter scenario, the chances of you having a permanent criminal record for DUI / DWI and losing your driver’s license for a period of time increase substantially. That’s why it is necessary for you to hire a top Stamford DUI / DWI attorney to handle your 14-227a case from the beginning, and work with them to craft and assemble the strongest application package for the Impaired Driver Intervention Program.

    If You’re Granted the Program – Getting to the Impaired Driver Intervention Program Finish Line

    If you are granted the program, then the Court will order you to attend 10 or 15 weekly classes, as well as a Mothers Against Drunk Driving Victim Impact Panel program. If it is a serious case, then the Court has wide discretion to order additional conditions as part of your IDIP, such as community service, installation of an ignition interlock device (IID) in your car, AA meetings, and in serious cases, revoke your driving privileges altogether for the duration of the program. Again, the threat of these additional conditions is all the more reason to make sure you are standing beside a top Stamford Connecticut 14-227a DUI / DWI attorney to argue against these conditions. There is a $350 program fee for the 10- week program and a $500 fee for the 15-week program that must be paid that day.

    Additionally, the court will require you to complete a MADD Victim Impact Panel, which requires a $75 fee. The Office of the Bail Commissioner will make arrangements to set up your classes with Connecticut Renaissance that has locations in Stamford, Norwalk, and Bridgeport (or at Crossroads which as locations in other parts of the State). These facilities will provide you with the available dates and times for the courses.

    Alternatively, the experienced first-offense DUI attorney at Connecticut’s Mark Sherman Law may be able to persuade the Court to allow you to participate in an out-of-state weekend IDIP instead of the weekly classes in Connecticut. This alternative has been a good fit for our clients with uncertain work-related travel schedules. These clients often cannot attend the weekly classes on a certain date and time. In these cases, we have successfully persuaded the court to permit them to attend an out-of-state program. Contact us for more information on this option.

    Completion of the Impaired Driver Intervention Program & Dismissal of Your 14-227 Charges

    Approximately one year from the court date on which you were granted the IDIP, you will have another court date at which your Connecticut DUI / DWI attorney will present proof of your compliance with all of your IDIP requirements and conditions. If you have successfully completed the IDIP, then the charges will be dismissed. Pursuant to Connecticut’s Erasure Statute (CGS 52-142a), once dismissed, and with respect to these DWI charges only, you may swear under oath that you have no criminal record of a DUI / DWI and have in fact never been arrested for DWI / DUI. Please contact us with any specific erasure-related questions, and let us know if we can help you scrub the internet of all reports and records of your Connecticut DWI / DUI arrest.

    Contact an Attorney about a First Offense DUI in Connecticut

    If you have been arrested for a 14-227 DUI / DWI in Stamford, Greenwich, Darien, Westport, Wilton, Fairfield, Norwalk, or New Canaan, or a 15-133 BWI / BUI, contact a DUI attorney at Mark Sherman Law today to find out if you are eligible for the IDIP. Our focus is on results. Our goal is to get you this program as quickly and cost-effectively as possible. Call us today–we are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.