The Sills Law Firm Represents Individuals with out-of-state DUI Issues
Do you reside in Connecticut and hold a Connecticut driver’s license, but have been arrested and charged with DUI in another state? Have you been arrested for DUI in Connecticut but hold a driver’s license from another state? Or are you facing Connecticut DUI charges and have prior out-of-state convictions?
If the answer to any of the above questions is yes, then you need a Connecticut DUI Attorney who is knowledgeable and experienced with out-of-state DUI issues. The DUI defense lawyers at The Sills Law Firm, LLC have handled thousands of Connecticut DUI cases. In doing so, they have encountered and become knowledgeable with DUI issues and the DUI laws of virtually every state.
OUT-OF-STATE DUI ISSUES? CALL TODAY FOR A CONSULTATION (860) 524-8118
Connecticut Drivers Charged with DUI in Other States
If a Connecticut driver’s license holder is arrested for DUI in another state, he or she could potentially face penalties in Connecticut. In addition to the criminal and driving penalties you receive in the foreign state, the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles could seek to suspend your physical license and restrict your operation of a motor vehicle to only those equipped with an ignition interlock device “IID.”
If you are convicted of DUI in another state, that state will generally report the conviction to the Connecticut DMV in the accordance the Interstate Driver License Compact. The Interstate Comact is an agreement between states to share information between a driver’s home or licensing state and the state where a driving violation such as DUI occurs. Most states are members of the interstate Compact. As a result, if you are convicted of DUI in another state, it is highly likely that the Connecticut DMV will find out about it at some point.
Therefore, if you are arrested for DUI in a state other than Connecticut, it is important that you retain with and consult with a Connecticut DUI attorney prior to entering any plea to DUI in that state. Your Connecticut DUI lawyer will review the DUI laws of the foreign state against the Connecticut DUI laws to determine if a conviction will likely trigger a suspension in Connecticut. Many states have differently levels or types of DUI related laws that Connecticut may not necessarily view as equivalent to our DUI law. Your Connecticut DUI attorney can work closely with your out-of-state DUI lawyer to reach the best possible outcome for you.
If an out-of-state DUI is reported to Connecticut, the DMV will review your driving history and issue a suspension as if the DUI had occurred in Connecticut.
First DUI Conviction
- 45-day suspension
- 1-year IID requirement
- May qualify for a Special Operator’s Permit for work, school, or medical appointments during the suspension
Second DUI Conviction
- 45-day suspension
- 3-year IID requirement
- May be restricted to driving only for work, school, substance abuse treatment, probation appointments, and IID service appointments during the first year of the IID requirement
Third DUI Conviction
- Permanent Revocation
- May apply for reinstatement after 2 years provided you meet certain conditions
- If reinstated, IID will required for life
- May apply to have the IID removed after 15 years
If you receive a suspension notice from the Connecticut DMV as a result of an out-of-state suspension, then you need to act fast. The Connecticut DMV will give you a short period of time before suspending your license and an even shorter time to request a hearing to contest the suspension. At the hearing, the DMV will only consider whether you were in fact convicted. A Connecticut DUI attorney, experienced with out-of-state DUI issues, can challenge the validity of the out-of-state conviction and whether the law is comparable to Connecticut’s DUI law.
Connecticut DUI Clients with out-of-state prior DUI Convictions
If you are charged with DUI in Connecticut, and have prior DUI convictions from another state you can face felony enhancements to your Connecticut DUI. Connecticut counts prior out-of-state convictions provided the convictions were for offenses that are substantially similar to Connecticut’s DUI law.
The DUI lawyers at the Sills Law Firm have successfully suppressed the admissibility of alleged out-of-state DUI convictions by convincing prosecutors and judges that the other state’s law is not substantially similar to Connecticut’s DUI law. Our lawyers have also successfully challenged the sufficiency of the state’s evidence needed to prove your prior out-of-state DUI conviction beyond a reasonable doubt. If your Connecticut DUI lawyer is able to suppress your prior out-of-state DUI conviction, it could mean the difference between being convicted of Felony DUI and mandatory jail time and being eligible for pretrial diversion and having your case dismissed.
WE CAN HANDLE YOUR CASE, SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATION TODAY – CALL US AT (860) 524-8118.
How Other States Will Handle Your DUI Case
If someone is convicted with an out-of-state DUI, the DMV in that state would then notify the Connecticut DMV and the individual would receive a license suspension in Connecticut. In addition to this, the individual would be obligated to work through the legal system in the other state and accept punishment according to their laws.
If you have been charged with a DUI outside of the state of Connecticut, you could be facing:
- Driver’s license suspension
- Costly fines
- Time in jail
- Probation
- Driver education classes
Being locked up and facing criminal penalties in another state can be a complex and scary situation. The process may be very time-consuming, as defendants may have to travel back and forth between states. Because of this, most individuals want to get the process over with in the most effective and expedited manner possible.
Contact Our Connecticut DUI Attorneys
At The Sills Law Firm, LLC, our Connecticut DUI lawyers have a great deal of experience representing all types of DUI charges, including those that occur outside of Connecticut. Our priority is to thoroughly and immediately review your case, understand the details of your charges, and work toward resolving your DUI in an efficient and effective manner.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUT-OF-STATE DUI DEFENSE SERVICES, CONTACT US TODAY
