Learn about DUI penalty in the state of Connecticut here.

First Offense

For conviction of a first violation, (A) Get fined not less than five hundred dollars or more than one thousand dollars. (B) Get (i) imprisoned not more than six months, forty-eight consecutive hours of which may not get suspended or reduced in any manner, or (ii) imprisoned not more than six months, with the execution of such sentence of imprisonment suspended entirely and a period of probation imposed requiring as a condition of such probation that such person perform one hundred hours of community service, as defined in section 14-227e. (C) Have such person’s motor vehicle operator’s license or nonresident operating privilege suspended for one year.

Second Offense

For conviction of a second violation within ten years after a prior conviction for the same offense:

(A) Get fined not less than one thousand dollars or more than four thousand dollars.

(B) Get imprisoned not more than two years. One hundred twenty consecutive days of this sentence may not get suspended or reduced in any manner. Also, you face a period of probation and one hundred hours of community service, as defined in section 14-227e, and

(C) (i) Have such person’s motor vehicle operator’s license or nonresident operating privilege suspended for three years or until the date of such person’s twenty-first birthday, whichever is longer, or (ii) if such person has been convicted of a violation of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section on account of being under the influence of intoxicating liquor or of subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section, have such person’s motor vehicle operator’s license or nonresident operating privilege suspended for one year and be prohibited for the two-year period following completion of such period of suspension from operating a motor vehicle unless such motor vehicle is equipped with a functioning, approved ignition interlock device, as defined in section 14-227j.

Third Offense

For conviction of a third and subsequent violation within ten years after a prior conviction for the same offense:

(A) Get fined not less than two thousand dollars or more than eight thousand dollars.

(B) Get imprisoned not more than three years. One year of this may not get suspended or reduced in any manner. Also, you face a period of probation requiring as a condition of such probation that such person perform one hundred hours of community service, as defined in section 14-227e, and

(C) Have such person’s motor vehicle operator’s license or nonresident operating privilege permanently revoked upon such third offense. For purposes of the imposition of penalties for a second or third and subsequent offense pursuant to this subsection, a conviction under the provisions of subsection (a) of this section in effect on October 1, 1981, or as amended thereafter, a conviction under the provisions of either subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of this section, a conviction under the provisions of section 53a-56b or 53a-60d or a conviction in any other state of any offense the essential elements of which are determined by the court to be substantially the same as subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of this section or section 53a-56b or 53a-60d, shall constitute a prior conviction for the same offense.

Penalty Summary

If you have been charged with your first DUI, you are generally looking at a fine and a suspension of your license. Your fine will be between $500 and $1,000. You will also receive a suspension of your license. This will vary based on your blood alcohol content (BAC) and your DMV hearing. If your BAC is .08 or higher, your license will be suspended for 45 days by the DMV. Lastly, you could face some jail time, even on a first offense DUI. However, you will not face more than six months in jail.

If you are facing your second DUI offense, these penalties are increased. You could face a fine of $1,000 to $4,000, and the prison time that you face could be increased to two years. Your prison sentence can only be reduced by 120 days. You will also face probation once you are released from prison. You will also face a license suspension of one year.

A third DUI offense results in greater penalties. You will face a fine between $2,000 and $8,000. You could also face three years in jail. Your probation will also include 100 hours of community service. You will not have your license suspended at this point; it will just be revoked. You will not be able to get your license back, no matter how much time goes by.