Attorney Offices by Municipality
- Berlin
- Berlin Law Offices:
People sometimes make mistakes. While we do not want you at risk driving under the influence, you may deserve a second chance if you are arrested for drunk driving. There may also have been an error or you may have refused or failed to take a breathalyzer test. You need someone to fight to keep your driving privileges.
- Bethany
- Norman Pattis:
DUI-DWI Terminology:
- DUI = Driving Under the Influence of drugs or alcohol
- DWI = Driving While Intoxicated or Driving While Imbibing
- OWI = Operating (a motor vehicle) While Intoxicated
- BAC = Blood Alcohol Content (in Connecticut, .08 is legal drunk)
- Breathalyzer = A breath test administered to measure your BAC
- Field Sobriety Test = A volunteer test requested by police offers to evaluate your sobriety - DO NOT volunteer to take these tests because they are subjective and could be used against you
- Administrative Hearing = A hearing to determine whether your driving privileges should be suspended or revoked
- Branford
- Evanko & Associates
DUI/DWI
Any DUI in Connecticut is treated by two different systems. Even good people will sometimes make a mistake and end up in one or both of these systems.
1. The legal system
Once a person has a DUI arrest, they are required to go through the entire legal process to clear their name. In some cases the person is able to avoid the stigma of a criminal record by going through aversion courses. However, these courses come with a cost, which at the moment costs approximately $200.
2. The administrative action
The use of a course in the criminal system does not end the dilemma faced by a DUI arrest. The arrest also has ramifications within the DMV, which is completely separate from the criminal action. A person can have a favorable criminal outcome and manage to salvage their good name and still loose their license in an administrative proceeding.
- Bridgeport
Bridgeport
- Bristol
- Andre Dorval:
From initial arraignment through plea negotiations, and trial if
necessary, it is imperative that you have the counsel of an experienced
criminal attorney.
- Broofield
- Kukk Law Office:
When you are accused of a crime, you need a dedicated and aggressive defense attorney to help fight for your rights from the moment that you are arrested until the time the case is resolved.
- Brooklyn
- Bushman, Douglas:
If you have been charged with Driving under the Influence (DUI), of either alcohol or drugs (legal or not)Êit is extremely important that you immediately contact a drunk driving lawyer.
In Connecticut, after you have been charged with DUI you have a right to an administrative hearing before the Department of Motor Vehicles before your driving privileges are suspended. You must request a hearing from the DMV, usually within 10 days of the charges or else your license will be automatically suspended. You will also be subject to court fines and mandatory jail time.
Under Connecticut law, operating a motor vehicle is illegal if your blood alcohol content (BAC) is over 0.08 or if you are under the influence of any drugs (legal or not), which could impair you ability to operate a vehicle. If you are a repeat DUI offender, the subsequent charge does not allow a BAC over 0.07. The state allows individuals that successfully participate in the Connecticut Alcohol Education Program to wipe their permanent record clean of a DUI offense. This is allowed 1 time every 10 years so long as there are no intervening DUI convictions.
- Danbury
- East Hartford
- Brian Woolf:
Have you or has someone close to you been arrested for criminal or
serious motor vehicle charges? Have you received a surprise visit or
telephone call from law enforcement authorities asking questions about
an investigation they are conducting, which may involve you?
What you initially say and how you respond can have a profound impact
not only on the final outcome of the matter, but more importantly on
your life for a long time to come. If you have been charged with Driving under the Influence (DUI), of either alcohol or drugs (legal or not) it is extremely important that you immediately contact a drunk driving lawyer. In Connecticut, after you have been charged with DUI you have a right to an administrative hearing before the Department of Motor Vehicles before your driving privileges are suspended. You must request a hearing from the DMV, usually within 10 days of the charges or else your license will be automatically suspended. You will also be subject to court fines and mandatory jail time.
Under Connecticut law, operating a motor vehicle is illegal if your blood alcohol content (BAC) is over 0.08 or if you are under the influence of any drugs (legal or not), which could impair you ability to operate a vehicle. If you are a repeat DUI offender, the subsequent charge does not allow a BAC over 0.07. The state allows individuals that successfully participate in the Connecticut Alcohol Education Program to wipe their permanent record clean of a DUI offense. This is allowed 1 time every 10 years so long as there are no intervening DUI convictions.
- East Lyme
- Sullivan, Linda:
Homicides, Sexual Assault, Drug Charges, Driving While Intoxicated; psychiatric defenses, Pardons.
Criminal And Serious Motor Vehicle Defense, Operating Under the Influence, Juvenile Criminal Defense, Pardons
When you are facing a criminal investigation or criminal charges, timely, professional advice is crucial to protecting your rights. Many people are trapped or coerced into giving confessions and making admissions in the mistaken belief that they can "clear things up" on their own. If you are facing criminal charges or a criminal investigation, knowledge of your rights and professional representation can help to protect you from making bad decisions which can have serious consequences for your future.
- Fairfield
- Farmington
- Auger, Micael:
* Foreclosure: foreclosure defense, foreclosure assistance and foreclosure alternatives, including mortgage modifications, short sales and Making Home Affordable Modifications
* Bankruptcy
* Real Estate: residential, commercial, litigation and land-use issues
* Injuries: car, motorcycle, truck, boat accident claims, slip and fall, and workers' compensation, motorcycle accidents, boating accidents, truck and bus accidents
* Family Law, including divorce, child custody and child support
* Criminal defense
* Contract litigation
- Levy & Droney:
As most people are aware, operating a motor vehicle while under the
influence of alcohol is a criminal offense. Although most people think
that the police must test the person's blood alcohol content in order
to obtain a conviction, that is not the case. Operating "under the
influence" may be prosecuted with or without any direct evidence of a
person's blood alcohol content. The determinative issue is whether a
person's ability to drive has been affected to an appreciable degree.
This fact be proven through direct testimony of the police officers
and/or other witnesses, without testing a person's blood alcohol
content. However, in most cases, a breathalizer test is performed to
test blood alcohol content, primarily because the refusal to take such
a test requires an automatic 180 day suspension from the Motor Vehicle
Department.
- Glastonberry
- Moriarty & Paetzold:
"DUI" stands for Driving under the Influence and occurs when someone is operating, or is in actual physical control, of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substance to the extent that their mental faculties are impaired and/or their blood alcohol content (BAC) is above the legal limit.
- John Franckling:
We all make mistakes sometimes. Should you find yourself charged with a
DUI offense, itÕs more important than ever to have legal representation
to protect your rights. The decisions you make now could affect your
driving record for many years.
- Hartford
- Manchester
- Beck & Eldergill:
A conviction for DUI or DWI is no small thing.
In addition to expensive fines, court costs, attorneys' fees, and outrageous insurance premiums, you can also lose your license and have to spend time in jail. If your job involves driving, the consequences become even more severe.
- Collins, Matthew:
Most people never come into contact with the criminal justice system,
but a DUI or traffic violation can change all that in an instant. With
serious potential consequences that will affect your daily life, you
want to do everything you can to fight your case.
- Marlborough
- Peter Catania: If
you have been accused or arrested for a crime, you need an attorney
that will believe in you and fight for you. Don't trust your case, and
your future, to an attorney that is just looking to collect a large fee
and get rid of your case as soon as possible.
- Meridian
- John Ghidini:
Connecticut possesses some of the toughest DUI laws in the country.Ê In Connecticut a person faces suspension of their driving privileges from the Department of Motor Vehicles and faces potential suspension of their driving privileges from the court system if convicted of DUI.Ê Given this potential double exposure, a person needs the services of a competent and able attorney.
- Gerald Harmon:
During closing arguments the prosecutor has a duty to give truthful
statements and should not attempt to mislead a jury or trial judge.
There are certain other issues that the prosecutor is prohibited from
or limited to commenting on.
- Middleton
- Fortuna & Cartelli:
The Laws of the State of Connecticut impose severe penalties on those
arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. Today, even
"First Time Offenders" may be subject to heavy fines, suspension of
driver's license, probation, alcohol treatment and counseling, and even
jail time. In addition, an arrest for driving under the influence
affects driving records for 10 years! This drastically affects
automobile insurance premiums and may even result in the total loss of
existing insurance. In 2004 I was arrested for DUI while riding my motorcycle. I am a self-employed general contractor. The loss of my license would have had a devastating effect on my life as well as my business.
- Milford
- Lynch, Trembicki and Boynton:
Criminal
Domestic Relations and Municipal Law
Driving While Intoxicated Trials in all Courts
Education Law
Elder Law
Employment
General Practice Probate
Land Use
Negligence
Planning
Real Estate
Workers Compensation and Labor Relations
Zoning
- Connecticut Law Group:
* Family law: Divorce, child custody and support, property division, adoption, post-judgment modifications
* Reproductive law: Infertility insurance coverage, surrogacy, pre-birth orders
* Estate planning, elder law: Wills, trusts, Medicare and Medicaid planning, veterans benefits, probate and estate administration
* Real estate law: Buying and selling commercial and residential real estate, refinancing, reverse mortgages, relocations
* DUI/DWI defense: Criminal court defense, pleas negotiation, administrative matters (driver's license suspension)
- Grossman & Cohen:
If you are arrested for a criminal, DWI, or other motor vehicle
offense, you should consult your lawyer immediately. You should not
give any statement to the police until you have conferred with your
lawyer. If you confess or plead guilty to even a seemingly harmless
offense, you may seriously prejudice your legal rights.
- Milldale
- Thompson Legal Services:
Have you been arrested for DUI / DWI?
The suspension of your license is NOT automatic!
Your best defense to a DUI / DWI arrest is not to drink and drive
But if you do:
First, you need to understand that a DUI / DWI arrest is just that, an ARREST. It is NOT a conviction. However, a DUI / DWI conviction carries with it several potentially serious consequences. Your driverÕs license will likely be affected, and your insurance rates and employment status may also be affected. There is the potential for court fines and costs, along with a jail sentence and/or probation. If this is your first DUI / DWI arrest, you may be eligible for a program through the Superior Court, which could result in your avoiding the above consequences. If this is not your first DUI / DWI arrest, a conviction could result in even more severe penalties.
The above results may not necessarily occur if you are represented by an attorney experienced in this area of the law. Every detail of your arrest can be an important component in determining whether you will be convicted of DUI / DWI or not. This includes results of any breath, blood, or urine tests if taken, or the refusal to submit to any of these tests, as well as your age and the type of driverÕs license you have. If you hold a commercial drivers license, you could be subject to a one year revocation with a potential impact on your employment.
- Monroe
- John Walkley:
Connecticut offers the Alcohol Education Program for first-time offenders. If the Court grants your application and allows you to participate in the program, you can resolve the case by attending classes. Then, if you satisfy the conditions, the DUI charges will be dismissed after a one-year probation. You will not face a one-year suspension of your driver's license. The only time you would be unable to drive would be during the 90-day or 6-month suspension from the Connecticut DMV.
There are several defenses in a DUI case. If your blood alcohol count
(BAC) was under the legal limit of .08, or if you were not operating a
car on a public highway, the charges can be dismissed. There may also be
technical defenses. If the stop of your car was illegal or the police
made mistakes in the way you were arrested, the charges against you may
be subject to dismissal.
- Naugatuck
- Employee Advocates:
* Employment Law - discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, whistle blower issues (Qui Tam), on-the-job injuries, workers compensation, collective bargaining, arbitration, and more
* Personal Injury Ð auto accidents, slip and fall, workplace injuries and more
* Criminal defense
- New Britain
- Advocates Law Firm:
If you have been accused of a crime, you are entitled to fight the
accusations aggressively and insist on all your constitutional rights.
Why? Because that is the law. In America, we believe in liberty and
justice for all. In America, all defendants are entitled to due process
of law, the presumption of innocence, the right to remain silent, the
right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, the right to
confront accusers, and the right to force the government to prove each
and every allegation against an accused beyond a reasonable doubt. But
there is a problem. Sometimes the government abuses its power and
ignores the mandate of liberty and justice for all. Sometimes the
government pursues too aggressively people suspected of criminal
wrongdoing. Sometimes the government accuses first and asks questions
later. Sometimes the government fails to see the real person it is
accusing of misconduct and trying to put in jail.
- New Canan
- Stewart, Richard:
The importance of hiring an attorney experienced in cases involving accusations of driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs cannot be underestimated. Because of the range of possible consequences resulting from such a conviction, it is critical to have an attorney familiar not only with the legal processes but the courts and administrative bodies involved to successfully direct the outcome.
- Maddox Law Office:
A drunk driving conviction in Connecticut may result in severe
penalties and fines, as well as license suspension. In todays society,
your privilege to drive is an absolute necessity. Most people in our
communities need to drive to work and many need to be able to drive in
order to fulfill their job responsibilities. Our need to drive extends
to our daily lives as well, for such things as running errands and
making sure that our children and other family members arrive at their
appointed destinations. If you have the assistance of a skilled DWI
lawyer, your battle to retain your license following a drunk driving
charge will be much easier.
- New Haven
- New London
- New Milford
- Niantic
- Stevens, Harris, Guernsey & Quilliam:
You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.
- Ronald Stevens:
DUI
After being arrested for a DUI in Connecticut, you must immediately take steps to protect yourself and your driving privilege. No longer is drunk driving a minor charge. You need an aggressive, experienced and seasoned lawyer who will be able to protect your rights.
The penalties for DUI in Connecticut are significant. If convicted for a first offense you are facing a mandatory jail sentence of 6 months suspended after serving 48 hours or 100 hours of community service, you will also lose your license for one year. Your insurance rates will sky rocket.
There are many defenses, challenges and alternative programs available to someone accused of DUI. You must not just accept what is offered. You must be prepared to fight in order to be treated fairly. Not all DUI cases are the same Ð most are very different. However, they all can be defended.
- North Haven
- Norwalk
- Plainville
- Thompson &
Vollono:
If you are charged with Operating While Under the Influence of Alcohol
or Drugs, and you have never been convicted of Operating Under the
Influence in Connecticut or any other state and you have never
previously used the Alcohol Education Program, then you may be eligible
for the Alcohol Education Program. This is a one year program with
required classes and possible counseling. A non refundable fee is
required to participate in this program. If this program is
successfully completed, the charges will be dismissed.
- Famiglietti & Famiglietti:
* Personal Injury and Workers' Compensation
* Real Estate Transactions
* Criminal and Motor Vehicle Defense
* Probate and Estate Planning
* Family Law
* Landlord/Tenant
* Business Organizations
* Contracts
- Ridgefield
- Rocky Hill
- Steven Varney: What
happens when I get arrested?
When you get arrested, you will be assigned a court date at the police
station or at the time the police officer gives you a ticket. Criminal
(and motor vehicle) cases in Connecticutare heardeither in the U.S.
District Court (if you have been chared with a federal crime) or in a
branch of the ConnecticutSuperior Court (if you have been charged with
violating state law). All state criminal cases start (and most stay) in
what is called the Part "B" section of the Superior Court. These courts
are called "G.A" courts (for "geographic area"), and arelocated at over
20 sites throughout Connecticut. Each G.A. court has a number, like
G.A. 14 (Hartford), G.A. 15 (New Britain), etc. Each G.A. court handles
cases from certain nearby towns.
- Seymour
- Perelmutter, Potash & Ginzberg:
Appellate Practice Child Support
Custody & Visitation Discrimination
Divorce DUI/DWI
Family Law Federal Practice
Legal Malpractice Medical Malpractice
Motor Vehicle Accidents -- Plaintiff Personal Injury -- Plaintiff
Products Liability Real Estate Law
Sexual Harassment Trusts
White Collar Crimes Wills
Workers' Compensation Law
You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.
- Shelton
- South Windsor
- Edward Morelli:
You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.
- Kevin Rennie:
If you have been charged with a crime in State court, and you are
convicted you may have large fines, court costs, and even jail time
imposed upon you. A conviction can have long standing consequences.
Even a simple traffic offense or a DUI can also cause your insurance
rates to skyrocket, and may even cost you your privilege to drive. It
is important to aggressively defend against such charges. You have the
right to have your attorney at all criminal proceedings.
- Stamford
- Suffield
- Spellman & Kelly:
* Was the traffic stop legal?
* Were breath tests and field sobriety tests administered properly?
* Was the equipment used to measure your blood alcohol level accurate?
* Were the people who administered the tests properly trained?
- Trumbull
- Abraham Hoffman:
A conviction on DUI/DWI charges will result in fines, driver's license
suspension or revocation, and possibly land you in jail. In addition,
your insurance company may increase your rates to an unmanageable
level. In defending against an impaired driving charge, you have many
rights as a criminal defendant, including the right to cross-examine
the witnesses against you, even if they are police officers. Consulting
an experienced attorney ... can make all the difference.
- Vernon
- Favreau, Pamela:
A drunk driving charge carries heavy penalties upon conviction. The prosecution will use one of two ways to prove the driver was under the influence.
* The state has a law which states if your BAC is .08 or greater at the time of operating the vehicle, you have committed the crime.
* The state can also use behavioral indicators such as evidence of erratic driving or upon stopping, notice smell of alcohol, glassy eyes, the person admitted to drinking, and the performance on Field Sobriety Tests.
- Wallingford
- Carbutti & Pappas: A conviction for drunk
driving (DUI) in Connecticut carries serious and long term
consequences. A first offense can result in large fines, loss of your
drivers license, community service, probation, and even jail time. A
second offense can result in large fines, lengthy suspension of your
drivers license, and mandatory jail time. A third or subsequent DUI is
a felony and will result in jail time, a felony criminal record, loss
of certain civil rights, and loss of your drivers license for a minimum
of one year. You must take a DUI charge seriously because the police,
prosecutors, and judges take DUI seriously.
- Waterbury
- West Hartford
- Westport
- Willimantic
- Jerome Paun:
A Driving Under the Influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) charge is serious trouble. Even first time DUI offenders face up to six months in jail, up to $1,000 in fines and a one year suspension of their driver's license by the court. In addition they face a separate Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) driver's license suspension of at least 90 days. In this hostile legal environment, you need an effective legal defense.
You Have the Right to Remain Silent - Use It!
You have the RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT. USE IT! The police are not kidding when they tell you, "anything you say can and will be used against you." They mean it! If the police have enough evidence to arrest you, they will; whether you talk to them or not. In most cases, there is nothing you could possibly say to the police that would stop them from arresting you if they have enough evidence for your arrest. Frequently, if the police do not have enough evidence to arrest you, they will want to talk with you to see if something you might say will give them the evidence they need to arrest you.
DON'T TALK TO THE POLICE WITHOUT A CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER REPRESENTING YOU!
If you talk to the police and they decide that you were not fully truthful when you talked to them, they could charge you with the crime of making a false statement. Usually, the best way to protect yourself is to USE YOUR RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT until you have consulted with and retained criminal defense counsel.
- Prue Law Group:
An officer must have probable cause to administer field sobriety tests
(walk a straight line, recite the alphabet, etc.), or to ask you to
submit to
a breathalyzer test. If you are pulled over for a reason (speeding,
running a red light, etc.) and the officer smells alcohol, observes
bloodshot
eyes, slurred speech, or other signs of intoxication, he or she has
probable cause to administer these tests. If the officer asks you to
take a
breathalyzer, you can refuse. However, refusal leads to an automatic
six-month suspension of your license. Taking the exam and being found
intoxicated results in a 90 day suspension.
- Woodbridge
- Hathaway Law Offices:
When you are under investigation for a crime, or if you have been arrested for or charged with violating the law, you want an aggressive attorney to protect your rights. The consequences of an arrest or conviction can be serious. You want a lawyer who will move quickly to secure your constitutional rights, one who can help you minimize the impact and get on with your life.
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