CONNECTICUT IS TOUGH ON DRUNK DRIVING
DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE (DUI)is a criminal offence in the State of Connecticut. In addition to the fact that it is a criminal offence, violators will also be subjected to stiff administrative sanctions, including license suspension periods. These suspensions have been revised and are imposed much earlier. They are imposed in ADDITION to criminal penalties and appear on your DRIVING RECORD. DRINKING AND DRIVING IS NOT TOLERATED ON CONNECTICUT’S ROADWAYS
IMPLIED CONSENT LAW - In Connecticut if you operate a motor vehicle, it is presumed that you consent to a test to determine your Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC). Under the current law you are legally intoxicated if your BAC is .08 or above. Also, if you are under the present drinking age of 21, you are considered legally intoxicated with a BAC of .02
IF YOU DRINK AND DRIVE, YOU TAKE RISKS
*You risk injuring yourself, your friends or family. You could also injure or kill other innocent drivers and passengers.
*You risk a criminal arrest which could result in license suspensions, fines and even jail time.
*You risk administrative sanctions involving the suspension of your license, In addition to the criminal penalties
YOU RISK INJURING YOURSELF OR OTHERS -ANY amount of alcohol will inhibit your ability to operate a motor vehicle. The effects of alcohol in your system are magnified by several factors, including your age, size, weight, emotional or physical condition, any prescription or over-the counter drugs you’ve taken and how much you food you have eaten. After you have consumed alcohol, your reaction time is slower and your coordination, vision and judgment are all impaired. Combining these effects with driving is DANGEROUS.
YOU RISK A CRIMINAL ARREST- You will be DETAINED by the police and read your rights. You will be placed in restraints (handcuffs) and transported to the State Police Troop, or police station, in a police cruiser. Your vehicle will be towed at your expense. While at the station, after you are processed you will be held in a lock-up facility, until you are bailed out. You will have to go to a criminal court and appear before a judge to face the criminal charge of Driving Under the Influence.
YOU RISK ADMINISTRATIVE SANCTIONS - While at the police station you will be asked to submit to a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Test. If you refuse, you will loose your license for 6 months. If you take the test and register with a BAC of .08 to .16, you will loose your license for 90 days. If you register above a .16, you will loose your license for 120 days. If you are under the age of 21 and your BAC is above a .02, you will loose your license for 90 days. These penalties apply to 1st time offenders of DUI. After your first offence, these suspension periods increase dramatically.
THESE RISKS ARE NOT WORTH TAKING
STIFF CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR DRUNK DRIVERS
In addition to the administrative sanctions which result in extended license suspension periods, a person arrested for DUI will have to appear in court. If the court proceedings result in a conviction, there are mandatory criminal penalties which include:
• Fines ranging from $500.00 to $8000.00
• Jail time
• Community Service
• Additional license suspension periods, and even permanent license revocations
DRUNK DRIVING IS A FATAL ERROR
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), There are more than 17,000 people killed in alcohol related traffic deaths per year. That is an average of one death every half- hour. Alcohol related fatalities account for almost half of the total traffic fatalities in this country.
97 percent of the driving public believe that drinking and driving is a threat to their personal safety, and 66 percent feel it is important to support tough drunk driving laws and assist in reducing this problem. This means that there are people actively alerting police of possible drunk drivers on Connecticut roadways, IN ADDITION to the already heightened awareness of the law enforcement community.
DON’T TAKE THE CHANCE
DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE
DESIGNATE A DRIVER
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