The Connecticut Post reports today that the Connecticut State Police made 76 arrests for DWI over the Memorial Day weekend. The story can be read here.
Increasing DWI enforcement over holiday weekends is nothing new for local departments and the State Police. In fact, if you hang out at courthouses enough, you'll here people say they expect the Tuesdays after Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day to be unusually busy due to extra DWI enforcement.
So what to do if you are one of the 76 who were arrested?
Well, first, call a lawyer. Only an experienced lawyer that knows the details of Connecticut's complex DWI laws can make sure your rights are protected throughout this process. Because don't forget, not only will your license be suspended, but there is the possibility that you could go to jail or wind up with a criminal record if your case is not handled properly.
Second, understand that the proceedings in court and those before the DMV are NOT the same. Your license will be suspended by the DMV unless you ask for and win a hearing before it.
Your license will also be suspended a second and unrelated time by the judge in court if you do not handle your case correctly.
These suspensions do NOT run together. If your license is going to be suspended by both the judge and the DMV, getting these suspensions to run at the same time does not happen automatically. Instead, it must be carefully planned and negotiated.
Third, if the DMV finds that you refused a breath test, your license will be suspended for six months (at least) and you cannot get a work permit for the first half of the suspension. Remember: just because the arresting officer said you refused a breath test does not mean that you did so. The law is very detailed in this regard. If the arresting officer said you refused to take a test, SEEK THE ADVICE OF A LAWYER IMMEDIATELY.
Lastly, do NOT miss court, no matter what. There are no good excuses for missing a court date.
Legal help is only a phone call away. If you have questions about what to do or what your rights are, call a lawyer.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment