Ruane Attorneys at Law, LLC

If your DUI was charged as a misdemeanor, it will be expunged after seven years have passed from your conviction. IF the DUI was charged as a felony, it can be expunged after 10 years since the time of your conviction.

Yes, a DUI will now automatically be expunged from your record after a certain period of time under the new Clean Slate Bill.

You need to consult the DMV if you want to get a revoked driver’s license reinstated.

This depends on the DMV Commissioner. The DMV Commissioner can reinstate a driver’s license after it has been revoked if good cause is shown.

The administrative fee for an ignition interlock device is $100. In addition, there are fees that have to be paid to a third party to install and maintain the device.

The DMV can impose an ignition interlock device if they are going to reinstate a person’s driver’s license after a DUI conviction.

An ignition interlock device is oftentimes imposed on a driver who has been convicted of driving under the influence. Upon reinstatement of a person’s driver’s license, the use of an ignition interlock device on the vehicle(s) that they drive may be imposed. Such a device requires a passed breath test in order to start the vehicle.

A second DUI offense has punishments that range from (1) Up to two years imprisonment, with 120 days mandatory, (2) Probation and community service, (3) Fines not exceeding $4,000.00, (4) 45 days of license suspension, (5) Three years of driving with an ignition interlock device (IID), and (6) One year of only driving to work, school, treatment or interlock service. If the person is under 21, the suspension is three years, or until they turn 21, whichever is longer. Further, there are no pretrial diversionary programs like there are for first-time offenders. Third DUI offense laws apply to anyone with more than two DUIs, in any jurisdiction, over the past ten-year period. This is because the person is deemed to be a danger to themselves and others. The consequences for a third DUI are as follows: (1) Three years incarceration, with a mandatory minimum sentence of one year, (2) 100 hours of community service and probation, (3) A fine of up to $8,000.00, (4) A two year license suspension, (5) And if the license is reinstated, use of an ignition interlock device on your vehicle(s) for life.

Probation before judgment could mean that the defendant is being supervised by the probation office, for example if the defendant is taking accelerated rehabilitation and then after successful probation, the charges are dismissed or continue to be prosecuted if unsuccessful.

Upon DUI arrest in Connecticut, the police will notify the DMV, who will automatically suspend your driver’s license. However, you have the right to contest this suspension at a DMV per se hearing.

Potential punishments for a first DUI offense are: (1) A jail sentence of up to six months, (2) Probation and 100 hours of community service, (3) fines not exceeding $1,000.00, (4) A license suspension for 45 days, and (5) Use of an ignition interlock device on your vehicle for one year (after the suspension, if one has been imposed, is lifted). In addition, you face penalties from the Department of Motor Vehicles, namely an additional driver’s license.

A criminal license suspension will take place if you are convicted of a DUI. However, if your case is nulled or dismissed through the use of an Alcohol Education Program, you may not have a license suspension imposed. In addition, a DMV license suspension can be contested.

Yes, a case can still be made against you if you refuse to take field sobriety tests. On the other hand, you can still defend yourself against a DUI should you refuse these tests.

Taking field sobriety tests is not required in the state of Connecticut. In fact, it might be in your best interest not to take these tests if asked to by the police.

DUI stands for Driving Under the Influence and DWI stands for Driving While Intoxicated. These are similar crimes, but they differ from state to state. The state of Connecticut uses the term “driving under the influence” (DUI) while other states use the term “driving while intoxicated”.

In the state of Connecticut, those under the age of 21 can be charged with a DUI. This carries serious penalties for minors.

Finding a local DUI lawyer is one of the best ways to defend yourself against a DUI charge. You can find the right lawyer for you by scheduling a free consultation and meeting with lawyers in your area. During a free consultation, you can learn more about how the lawyer will represent you, their fees, and if you are a good fit.

To be clear, the requirements for Miranda are 1) that the person is in custody and 2) the person is being interrogated. There are certain requirements for the Miranda Warning. If a person chooses to remain silent after Miranda Warnings, the police can still ask the suspect his or her name and address but the suspect does not need to answer substantive questions. Because of this reason, police generally do not have the need to interrogate the person. The Miranda Warning is only required when the police intend to interrogate the person while that person is in custody. Only when the police determine that the person is a suspect that they will interrogate does the questioning become custodial and Miranda Warnings must be given.

It is best to hire a lawyer as soon as possible after being charged with a crime, or even before a charge comes if you think that an arrest is on the horizon.

Yes. When a juvenile record is sealed, it is not viewable by the public. When a juvenile record is expunged, it is completely erased.

Yes, but this is rare.

The elements of the crime are the actions or intentions that are required under a statute, so if all of those parts of the statute (the elements) can be proven by the state, then the defendant can likely be proved guilty.

Yes, intent does not matter for some crimes.

Yes, arrests can be made without witnessing a crime.

A Motion to Suppress usually is filed when the police or prosecution may have done something illegal to obtain evidence. When they undertake an illegal act, they should not get the benefit of using the evidence against you. So this is when a lawyer would file a Motion to Suppress citing your Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights. It is important to note that winning Motions to Suppress do not guarantee that a case will be dismissed. It simply means that the state cannot use that piece of evidence against you at your trial. If there is other evidence from which a jury may infer guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, a case may still proceed.

The truth of the matter is that only a small percentage of criminal cases go to trial. Most are resolved before the need for trial occurs. However, our lawyers are always prepared to go to trial and fight for our clients if we believe that is the best course of action for our clients.

The length of a criminal case will depend on many factors; however, you can expect your case to take anywhere from a few months to a year.

A detention hearing is a hearing where the state argues that the defendant should be detained without bail or released for a certain amount set pending their criminal case. During the hearing, the defense argues that the defendant’s bail should be low or should be released pending the case.

A bail hearing, also known as an arraignment, is the first court appearance that a person has after they have been arrested for a crime in Connecticut. One of the major topics covered at the arraignment is the issue of bail. A judge will determine if bail should be granted at all, and if so, any restrictions that will be imposed and how much the bail bond will be. Having a lawyer on your side will make this process much easier.

A bench warrant is a type of warrant issued by a judge when a defendant is not in court when they are supposed to be. This is usually connected to the crime of Failure to Appear for a court date and will be issued if a defendant does not get to court in a timely manner on the day of their scheduled court appearance.

While you do not need to have a lawyer represent you at your first court appearance, it is strongly advised that you do so. A lawyer can fight for your right to bail and ensure that you are set up to handle the criminal process in a way that has your best interest in mind.