Driving Under the Influence (DUI): Two ways to lose your driver’s license
1. Administrative Per Se through DMV for failing or refusing a chemical alcohol test
You can lose your driver's license for failing or refusing a chemical alcohol test. Here's what happens:
If you are arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, the police send the arrest report to the DMV. Once we receive this report, we then impose a suspension of your driver’s license for either failing the blood, breath, or urine test, or for refusing a chemical alcohol test.
This suspension is directed under the Connecticut General Statute §14-227b.
In most cases, the mandatory 45-day driver’s license suspension—during which you cannot drive—will begin 30 days after the arrest date. The license suspension is based on the arrest information. It is also separate from any penalties or requirements that may be imposed as a result of the court case.
A notice of your driver’s license suspension will be mailed to the address of record, allowing you seven days to request a hearing. If you wish to request a hearing, call the Administrative Per Se Unit at 860-263-5204 (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday) before the deadline stated on your suspension notice. You may also contact the Administrative Per Se Unit to request a hearing by email at DMV.AdminPerse@ct.gov
Restore your driver’s license by installing an Ignition Interlock Device (IID)
We require the installation of an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) prior to reinstatement for all alcohol-related suspensions. Following restoration, the IID must be maintained for according to the charts below:
IID requirement for drivers under age 21*
|
Blood Alcohol Level
|
First Offense
|
Second Offense
|
Third or Subsequent Offense
|
|
Test results of .02 or higher
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One year
|
Two years
|
Three years
|
IID requirement for drivers age 21 and older*
|
Blood Alcohol Level
|
First Offense
|
Second Offense
|
Third or Subsequent Offense
|
|
Test results of .08 or higher
|
Six months
|
One year
|
Two years
|
IID requirement for all drivers*
|
Refusal of test
|
First Offense
|
Second Offense
|
Third or Subsequent Offense
|
|
Refusal to submit to a breath, urine, or blood test
|
One year
|
Two years
|
Three years
|
*An IID may be required for a longer term than the timeframes in the table above. This may occur if you are convicted in court for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs under Connecticut General Statute §14-227a, §14-227g, §14-227m, or§14-227n.
The IID is required for the duration specified in Connecticut General Statute §14-227b(i), §14-227a(g), §14-227m(c), or §14-227n(c) whichever is longer. See Section 2 below.
2. Court conviction for DUI (DWI/OUI)
The second way you can lose your license is if you are convicted in court for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Under Connecticut's criminal law, a driver arrested for DUI will receive both a summons and a court date. If the court proceedings result in a conviction, the following penalties (involving driver’s license suspension) must be imposed by the DMV. Review the dated timeframes below.
For legal reference, see: Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs Connecticut General Statute §14-227a, §14-227g, §14-227m, §14-227n*, or §14-111n
|
First
conviction
|
45-day license suspension
If no other suspensions, eligible for restoration after the 45-day suspension regardless of whether the suspension for failing or refusing a chemical test for the same arrest has been fully served
Must install Ignition Interlock Device (IID)
IID required for one year following restoration
|
|
Second
conviction
|
45 days license suspension, or until twenty-first birthday, whichever is longer
If no other suspensions, eligible for restoration after the 45-day suspension regardless of whether the suspension for failing or refusing a chemical test for the same arrest has been fully served
Must install Ignition Interlock Device (IID)
IID required for three years following restoration
During the first year of this three-year period, you may drive only to or from work, school, an alcohol or drug abuse treatment program, an IID service center, or an appointment with a probation officer
|
|
Third or subsequent conviction
|
Permanent revocation of license
Must wait at least two years from the date of revocation to request a hearing for reconsideration.
|
Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs
Connecticut General Statute §14-227a, §14-227g, or §14-111n
Conviction prior to January 1, 2012
|
First conviction
|
One-year license suspension
|
|
Second conviction
|
One-year license suspension
|
|
Third or subsequent conviction
|
Permanent revocation of license
Must wait at least two years from the date of revocation to request a hearing for reconsideration
|
Manslaughter with a Motor Vehicle, Connecticut General Statute §53a-56b or §14-111n
Assault with a Motor Vehicle, Connecticut General Statute §53a-60d or §14-111n
Driving Under the Influence - Defining first, second, third offense Etc.
Defining First, Second, Third/Subsequent Offense
Connecticut General Statutes §14-111n, §14-227a, §14-227g, §14-227m,§14-227n, §53a-56b or §53a-60d are considered to determine if a conviction is a first, second, or third/subsequent offense for any and all convictions reported.
