If you are charged or convicted of driving while under the influence of alcohol in Connecticut, you may face a number of legal penalties. In addition, a DUI conviction may also hinder your ability to pursue or continue your career as a pilot. In most cases, you will need to file a report with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in a timely manner after you are taken into custody for this crime.
Legal penalties
The moment that you are taken into custody, you are at risk of being taken to jail for several hours or days. There is also a chance that your car will be impounded whether or not there is someone available to drive it home for you. If convicted, you may be sentenced to additional jail or prison time, a fine or a driver’s license suspension. In the event that you refuse to submit to a chemical test, you could have your license suspended even if you are ultimately acquitted of the drunk driving charge.
Professional penalties
It’s possible that your pilot license will be suspended or revoked as the result of a DUI. This may be true if you have been charged or convicted of the same or similar offense within the previous three years. Furthermore, your license might be suspended or revoked if you fail to file a report with the FAA within 60 days of a drunk driving incident.
Other possible consequences
A DUI conviction may make it harder to get financial aid to finish your education or to take continuing education courses. You may also have trouble finding work if you can’t drive to an airport or other destinations that you might then fly from.
Although a drunk driving charge may cause a serious interruption to your life, there may be ways to defend against one. For instance, you may claim that there was no basis for the stop that resulted in such a charge or otherwise cast doubt upon other evidence introduced at trial.
