Residents in Connecticut know that that having a drink or two and then driving home is a commonly accepted social practice among most groups. However, despite this, there remains strong negative stereotypes among the public about people who are arrested for suspected drunk driving. This discrepancy can be hard for some to reconcile given how many people actually drive after drinking.
Nonetheless, the arrest numbers for people facing DUI charges in Connecticut point to a steady crackdown on this behavior. In 2015, more than 10,400 people were arrested for potential DUIs in Connecticut. Of those, more than 3,300 were convicted of charges and over 140 people lost their right to drive for some period of time. Of the statewide arrests that year, 175 took place in Norwalk. That number was only slightly down from the prior two years. In 2013, there were 182 Norwalk arrests and in 2014 there were 184. With three months left in 2016, there have been 143 DUI arrests thus far.
The state’s penalties for drunk driving may find even a first-time offender spending time in jail. After a third conviction within the span of 10 years, felony charges are to be faced. High fines, driver’s license suspensions or revocations and criminal records are just some of what defendants face if convicted of a DUI in Connecticut.
The serious nature of the penalties of a DUI make it important for drivers to know their rights. Talking with an attorney after a drunk driving arrest may help people to learn what those rights are.
Source: The Hour, “Data shows intoxicated drivers arrested in Norwalk once every two days,” Leslie Lake, Sept. 30, 2016