Joseph J. Colarusso
Connecticut DUI Attorney | New York DWI Lawyer
Pulled over for drunk driving in New York, but live in Connecticut? Live in New York but charged with DUI in Connecticut? With the state borders so close, it’s not unusual for drivers to face charges in a state other than their home state. There can be a difference in the way cases are handled. But wherever you’re charged, you need a drunk driving lawyer who knows the law and has experience taking cases to court. Contact Connecticut drunk driving lawyer Joseph J. Colarusso at 203-325-2200. Joseph Colarusso has been litigating cases for more than 25 years in both New York and Connecticut.
Connecticut DUI defense attorney Joseph Colarusso helps people charged with DUI in Fairfield County, Connecticut, including Stamford, Danbury, New Haven, Greenwich, Darien, and Westport. Colarusso helps people charged with DWI in White Plains, New York, and Westchester County, including New Rochelle, Yonkers, Queens, and Scarsdale.
Overview of the Crime of Drunk Driving
Each US state has its own set of drunk-driving laws, but there are certain concepts and features common to most states' drunk-driving jurisprudence. Basically, as we all know, it is illegal and a crime for a person to operate a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol and/or drugs to a degree that impairs his or her safe driving ability and judgment. Both criminal and civil penalties for drunk driving can be harsh and often include:
- Loss or suspension of license
- Large fines
- Substance-abuse treatment
- Jail or prison time
- Community service
- Restitution
- Criminal record
- Restrictive probationary license programs, including ignition interlock devices and Cinderella licenses
In addition, the social stigma and effect on your career may have lifelong negative consequences.
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The Role of Probation in Drunk-Driving Sentencing
Probation is by far the most common sentence for people convicted of drunk driving, especially for first-time offenders. Probation is a criminal sentence served in the community, rather than in jail or prison. Most states limit terms of probation to a maximum of five years. If you are facing a drunk-driving charge, an experienced lawyer can assist you with your defense and, if necessary, advocate for a fair sentence.
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The Prosecutor's Role in a Drunk-Driving Case
Prosecution refers to the government's role in the criminal-justice system. When criminal activity is suspected, it is up to the government to investigate, arrest, charge and bring the alleged offender to trial. A prosecutor is a lawyer who works for the government and who is responsible for developing and presenting the government's case against a criminal defendant. Prosecutors may be called county attorneys, city attorneys, district attorneys or states' attorneys. Some jurisdictions may even have experienced police officers act as prosecutors in drunk-driving cases. The prosecutor is the opponent or "adversary" of the criminal defendant and his or her attorney; the two sides go head-to-head against each other in court.
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Reliability of Breath-Test Results in a Drunk-Driving Case
In every state in the US, a driver with a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher is presumed to be legally intoxicated for drunk-driving purposes. Each state has also enacted an implied-consent law. Implied-consent laws provide that every licensed driver within the state is considered to have given his or her consent to chemical testing to determine his or her BAC whenever a law enforcement officer has reasonable suspicion of intoxication. In most states, refusal to submit to such a test results in license suspension or revocation.
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The Impact of a Drunk-Driving Conviction on Your Auto Insurance
An alcohol-related car accident and subsequent drunk-driving conviction can bring many negative consequences into your life, possibly including jail or prison time, a criminal record, car repair or replacement, restitution, guilt and grief over harm to others, higher insurance premiums, a civil lawsuit, fines, court and administrative fees, community service, alcohol education, substance-abuse treatment, social stigma, restrictions on or revocation of your drivers license, attorneys fees, restrictive probation and others. If you are arrested for or charged with drunk driving, a criminal-defense lawyer can advise you about your legal rights and help you fight the charges.
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