Drunk and drugged driving laws in Connecticut

By the end of this topic you can

• You can state the legal blood alcohol limits for adults, under-21s and commercial drivers.
• You can explain what implied consent means and what happens if you refuse a test.
• You can describe the DMV suspension and ignition interlock rules.
• You can explain why drugs, including legal ones, can make driving illegal.

What you need to know and understand

• Drivers 21 and older are legally intoxicated at a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher.
• Drivers under 21 break the law at .02 or higher.
• The limit for commercial vehicle drivers is .04.
• By driving in Connecticut you are treated as having agreed to a BAC test. This is called implied consent.
• Failing or refusing a test leads to a 45-day DMV suspension, separate from any court penalty.
• An ignition interlock device is required before your license is restored after an alcohol-related suspension.
• You can be charged with impaired driving even without a BAC reading, if your driving ability is impaired by alcohol or drugs.

The limits, and why under-21s are different

One drink means 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor. They all contain about the same alcohol. For an adult the legal line is .08, but impairment starts well below that. For a driver under 21 the line is .02, which the manual says could be reached after one drink.

DUI also covers drugs. Prescription and over-the-counter medicines for colds, allergies or nerves can make you drowsy or slow, and mixing any drug with alcohol multiplies the effects. Read labels and ask a pharmacist. Cannabis is legal for adults in Connecticut, but driving while impaired by it is still a crime.

What happens after an arrest

• The DMV suspends your license for at least 45 days if you fail or refuse a test, from a date in the notice that is no more than about 30 days after the arrest.
• You have seven days after the notice is mailed to ask for a DMV hearing.
• Under 21 at .02 or more: ignition interlock for at least 1 year on a first offense.
• 21 or older at .08 or more: ignition interlock for at least 6 months on a first offense.
• Refusing a test, at any age: ignition interlock for at least 1 year on a first offense.

If you are convicted in court

A first conviction can bring a fine of $500 to $1,000 and up to 6 months in jail, with at least 48 hours that cannot be suspended, or a suspended sentence with probation and 100 hours of community service. You also face a 45-day suspension and a year of driving only cars fitted with an ignition interlock. A third conviction leads to permanent revocation.

Drivers under 18 should also know that a DUI conviction is never eligible for youthful offender status.

Smart choices

1. Decide before you go out how you will get home.
2. If you have had anything to drink or used cannabis, do not drive. Call a parent, a sober friend or a ride service.
3. Never ride with a driver who has been drinking or using drugs.
4. Check medicine labels for warnings about drowsiness before you drive.

Common mistakes

• Believing that coffee or a cold shower sobers you up. Only time lowers your BAC.
• Thinking cannabis is fine because it is legal. Impaired driving is illegal whatever the substance.
• Assuming a test refusal avoids punishment. Refusing brings its own suspension and a longer interlock.
• Driving the morning after heavy drinking. You may still be over the limit.

Test yourself: Drunk and drugged driving laws in Connecticut

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Connecticut Teen License Suspensions
• Connecticut 8 Hour Safe Driving Practices Course
• CT Permit Test