Connecticut DUI Laws: Penalties, BAC Limit & License (2026)

In Connecticut the offense is driving (operating) under the influence, often called DUI or OUI, and Connecticut General Statutes 14-227a makes it unlawful to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or more. A first offense carries up to six months in jail with a two-day mandatory minimum, a $500 to $1,000 fine, and a 45-day license suspension followed by one year on an ignition interlock device, according to the Connecticut DMV.

This guide is part of our DUI Laws by State series.

What counts as a DUI in Connecticut

Connecticut charges the offense as operating a motor vehicle under the influence under Connecticut General Statutes 14-227a. The statute creates two ways to prove the offense: operating while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or operating with an elevated BAC of 0.08 percent or more. Because the first definition does not require a specific number, a driver under 0.08 can still be convicted if the State proves impairment. Commercial drivers face a 0.04 percent limit under the same subsection, and drivers under 21 fall under a separate zero-tolerance offense at General Statutes 14-227g, which sets the limit at 0.02 percent and borrows the 14-227a penalty subsections, as the Connecticut DMV explains. The 0.08 figure is the federal benchmark adopted by every state except Utah, which uses 0.05 percent, as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration describes.

First-offense DUI penalties in Connecticut (jail, fines, suspension)

A first DUI is a misdemeanor. According to the Connecticut Office of Legislative Research summary of General Statutes 14-227a, the penalties include up to six months in jail with a mandatory minimum of two days, or probation with a condition of 100 hours of community service in place of the mandatory jail. The fine ranges from $500 to $1,000. The court suspends the license for 45 days, after which the driver must use an ignition interlock device for one year. A second conviction within the look-back period raises the exposure to up to two years in jail with a 120-day mandatory minimum, and a third to up to three years with a one-year mandatory minimum. Drivers must also carry SR-22 financial-responsibility insurance to reinstate.

Watch out: The DMV administrative suspension under 14-227b and the criminal case under 14-227a run on separate tracks. You can resolve the criminal charge and still face the DMV suspension, and the DMV suspension can take effect even before the criminal case is decided.

Ignition interlock requirements in Connecticut

Connecticut requires an ignition interlock device for every DUI offender, including first offenders, which sets it apart from states that reserve the device for repeat or high-BAC cases. As the Connecticut DMV explains, a first offender serves the 45-day license suspension and then an interlock term. On the administrative track alone, General Statutes 14-227b(i)(2) sets that term at six months for a first suspension after a test failure, but 14-227b(i)(1) requires the longer of the administrative period or the period 14-227a(g) sets for the same arrest and conviction. So a driver who is convicted of a first DUI serves the full one-year interlock term, and the six-month figure applies only where there is no conviction. For a second offense, the interlock requirement runs three years, and during the first year the driver may use the vehicle only to get to work, school, treatment, or an interlock service center. A driver who refused the chemical test faces a one-year interlock requirement after the administrative suspension. The device requires a breath sample before the engine starts and at random points during the trip, and the program is administered through the DMV.

License suspension and the administrative process in Connecticut

Connecticut runs two suspension systems at once. The administrative per se suspension under Connecticut General Statutes 14-227b is a civil action by the DMV based on the chemical test result or a refusal, separate from the criminal case. As the Connecticut DMV explains, a driver who fails or refuses the test faces a 45-day suspension that generally begins about 30 days after the arrest. After the suspension, the driver must install an ignition interlock device, for six months following a test failure or one year following a refusal on a first offense, though 14-227b(i)(1) extends the six-month term to the one year set by 14-227a(g) whenever the driver is also convicted. A separate court suspension follows a conviction. The arresting officer takes the license and serves a suspension notice, and the driver may request a DMV hearing within the deadline on the notice.

Repeat offenses and the Connecticut look-back period

Connecticut counts prior DUI convictions within a 10-year look-back window, so penalties escalate sharply for offenses inside that period. According to the Connecticut Office of Legislative Research, a second DUI within 10 years carries up to two years in jail with a 120-day mandatory minimum, a $1,000 to $4,000 fine, and a 45-day suspension followed by three years on an interlock. A third or subsequent DUI within 10 years carries up to three years in jail with a one-year mandatory minimum, a $2,000 to $8,000 fine, and permanent license revocation, with eligibility to reapply after two years. Those higher maximum terms change the offense level. Section 14-227a does not itself label the offense a felony or a misdemeanor, so the classification comes from the penal code. General Statutes 53a-25(a) makes any offense punishable by more than one year a felony, and 53a-25(d)(1) deems an unclassified offense carrying a maximum "in excess of one year but not more than three years" a class E felony. Because a second offense carries up to two years and a third up to three years, a second or third DUI conviction is a class E felony; only a first offense, with its six-month maximum, is a misdemeanor. A driver who causes serious injury or death while impaired also faces separate felony charges such as second-degree manslaughter or assault with a motor vehicle regardless of offense number.

Watch out: Refusing the breath, blood, or urine test does not protect your license. A first refusal triggers a 45-day administrative suspension plus a one-year interlock requirement (longer than the six months that follows a first test failure), and the refusal can be used against you in the criminal case.

Refusing a breath or blood test in Connecticut

Connecticut's implied consent law, in Connecticut General Statutes 14-227b, provides that by driving in the state you have consented to a test of your blood, breath, or urine if an officer has probable cause for a DUI arrest. According to the Connecticut DMV, a refusal results in a 45-day administrative suspension followed by an ignition interlock requirement of one year on a first refusal, with longer interlock terms for second and third refusals. Failing the test produces the same 45-day suspension but a six-month interlock requirement on the administrative track, which rises to one year if the driver is convicted. The refusal can also be introduced as evidence in the criminal case. The driver may contest the suspension at a DMV hearing requested within the deadline stated on the suspension notice.

Can you expunge or seal a DUI in Connecticut

Connecticut courts cannot erase a DUI conviction directly, but the state offers a path to full erasure through the Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles. An absolute pardon, if granted, completely erases the adult criminal record, including a DUI conviction. A person may apply for an absolute pardon three years after the disposition of the most recent misdemeanor conviction, or five years after a felony, and the applicant cannot be on supervision or have pending charges when applying. For a DUI, the wait runs at least three years from the conviction date or the completion of any sentence or probation, whichever is later. Connecticut's Clean Slate law also automatically erases certain older misdemeanor convictions over time, though impaired-driving offenses have historically been treated differently, so applicants should confirm current eligibility.

What to do after a DUI arrest in Connecticut

A Connecticut DUI creates two separate matters: a criminal case in court under 14-227a and an administrative license case at the DMV under 14-227b. The deadlines are short, so a common first step is to request a DMV hearing within the window stated on the suspension notice, because missing it generally means the suspension takes effect automatically. The criminal case proceeds on its own schedule from arraignment through resolution. General information cannot tell you how your case will come out, since the outcome depends on the specific facts, the evidence, and your record. Since the license case and the criminal case run separately, have a Connecticut DUI lawyer go over both, starting with the DMV hearing request, in a free consultation (attorney advertising). Keep the arrest paperwork, the suspension notice, and any test results in a safe place.

More Connecticut Laws

• Connecticut Expungement Laws
• Connecticut Warrant Search

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the BAC limit in Connecticut?

The per se limit is 0.08 percent BAC under General Statutes 14-227a, which also sets the 0.04 percent commercial limit. Drivers under 21 face a 0.02 percent zero-tolerance limit under a separate offense at General Statutes 14-227g.

How long do you lose your license for a first DUI in Connecticut?

A first DUI carries a 45-day license suspension. After the suspension, the driver must use an ignition interlock device for one year before returning to unrestricted driving.

Is a first DUI a felony in Connecticut?

No. A first DUI is a misdemeanor because its maximum is six months in jail. A second or third DUI conviction is a class E felony: 14-227a(g) sets maximums of two years and three years, and General Statutes 53a-25 deems an unclassified offense carrying more than one year but not more than three years a class E felony. Causing serious injury or death while impaired leads to separate felony charges on top of that.

Do you need an interlock for a first DUI in Connecticut?

Yes. Connecticut requires an ignition interlock device for one year after the 45-day suspension on a first DUI conviction. On the separate administrative (non-conviction) track, a first test failure carries a six-month interlock requirement and a first refusal carries a one-year interlock requirement.

What happens if you refuse a breathalyzer in Connecticut?

Under implied consent at 14-227b, a refusal triggers a 45-day administrative suspension plus a one-year ignition interlock requirement on a first refusal, longer than the six-month administrative requirement for a first test failure with no conviction. The refusal can also be used as evidence in court.

How long does a DUI stay on your record in Connecticut?

A DUI counts as a prior for 10 years under the look-back period and stays on the criminal record permanently unless erased through an absolute pardon, which is available three years after the conviction or sentence.

Can you get a DUI expunged in Connecticut?

The courts cannot erase a DUI directly, but the Board of Pardons and Paroles can grant an absolute pardon that fully erases the record, generally available three years after the conviction or completion of the sentence.

What is the look-back period for DUI in Connecticut?

Connecticut uses a 10-year look-back period under 14-227a. A prior DUI conviction within 10 years makes the next offense a second offense, with steeply higher fines, jail, and interlock terms.