Third Offense or Subsequent

A third or subsequent New London DUI is the most serious charge of its kind that you can face. By this point, the court sees you as a persistent offender and will not be interested in going easy on you. Your court process may be very different than it was the first or second time around as a result. It is more important now than ever to hire a New London DUI defense lawyer who has worked on third offense cases before. A lawyer can work to mitigate the penalties that you face and find the right defense for the situation that you are in. In order to learn more about what you are up against if this is your third or subsequent DUI, read on.

New London Third DUI Penalties

Before we go any further, let’s clear up with a third or subsequent offense means. It means that within a 10 year period, you have already been convicted of at least two DUIs. If it has been 20 years since your last DUI, you should not be considered a third offender. However, these DUIs could occur anywhere. They could happen in New London, in another area of Connecticut, or out of state. Any DUI or DUI equivalent in another state in the past 10 years counts towards the number of offenses.

If you find yourself in this position, you should learn more about the potential consequences that you face if you are convicted. They are as follows:

• A fine of up to $8,000. As you probably already know, the fine associated with a first offense DUI is $1,000 and the fine for a second DUI is $4,000, so the third offense fine increases significantly.
• A prison term of up to three years, one year of which is considered the mandatory minimum. You may have avoided jail time in your past convictions, but by a third convictions, serving time is more common. Of course, this is not always the case. You may be able to serve a term of probation instead. If this is an option available to you, you also need to do 100 hours of community service.
• A driver’s license suspension for two years. If your license is reinstated, you need to use an ignition interlock device in every car that you drive for the rest of your life. This requirement can only be challenged after 15 years have passed since you got your driver’s license back. You can apply to have the Commissioner of the DMV lift the ignition interlock device requirement, but the Commissioner has discretion to do so or not do so. It would help to show cause that you have learned your lesson. To be considered, you also have to participate in treatment or rehabilitation.

As you are probably already aware, you could face other penalties not imposed by the court or DMV if you are convicted of another DUI. If you have a professional license to do your job, it could be suspended or revoked altogether. You may lose your job even if you don’t have an issue with a professional license. You may also deal with issues such as additional fees, premium insurance rates, and issues in your personal relationships. A DUI can impact every aspect of your life.

Defend Yourself

Facing a third offense New London DUI is a serious situation, but not all is lost. Contacting a DUI defense lawyer is your best bet to protect your rights and defend yourself. Contact us to see how we can help in your situation.