Serrano & Serrano, LLC

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690 Flatbush Avenue West Hartford, CT  06110-1308

860 236-9350             800 856-6400  toll free     860 523-9101  fax

10 Church St, Naugatuck 203 729-6100

 

ACCIDENTS

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CRIMINAL DEFENSE & DWI / DUI

 

    At Serrano & Serrano, LLC, we aggressively represent persons who have been charged with crimes, including driving while intoxicated (DWI), also called driving under the influence (DUI).  Our experience tells us that people often are wrongly accused of crimes.  We also know that sometimes people make mistakes and wind up facing criminal prosecution.

    When we take your case, you can be assured that we are determined to get you the best result possible.  Our skill has earned us the respect of prosecutors and judges.  We will put that skill to work for you, whether in attempting to negotiate a favorable outcome or in trying your case effectively to a jury. 

    As an example of our determination to achieve the best possible results for our clients, Attorney John Serrano recently won a Not Guilty verdict after a 3-week trial in Waterbury Superior Court for an individual wrongly accused of kidnapping and sexual assault who was facing 40 years in prison.

   

Felonies

    Felonies are the most serious crimes.  Conviction of a felony can result in a lengthy prison term and substantial fines.  Persons convicted of felonies must provide the state with a sample of their DNA.

    Felony convictions in Connecticut also result in the loss of certain rights such as the right to vote and to serve on a jury.

 

Misdemeanors

    Misdemeanors are less serious crimes then felonies but still result in a criminal record.  Some misdemeanors have mandatory minimum jail sentences.

    Misdemeanors involving motor vehicles can result in the suspension or loss of drivers license.

 

Driving While Intoxicated

    Driving while intoxicated (DWI), also know as driving under the influence (DUI), is probably the most common criminal charge.  People who drink frequently and drive obviously are at risk for being arrested for drunk driving.  Those who only drink once in awhile, however, often times do not realize they are above the legal limit when they start driving home from a party or a social event.  Every day people from of all backgrounds — college educated, high school drop-outs, rich, poor, lawyers, teachers, factory workers and housewives — find themselves facing charges of driving while intoxicated.

    Drunk driving is a very serious problem in the United States.  Every two minutes, a drunk driver injures someone.  Every 30 minutes, a drunk driver kills someone.  Forty percent of all fatal accidents are caused by intoxicated drivers.

    Judges often say the most difficult part of their job is when they have to sentence a person charged with causing a death or serious injury while driving drunk.  The driver, who did not mean to hurt anyone, is overcome with sorrow and guilt.  The victim's family — a spouse, children, parents, brothers and sisters  — are overcome with grief and want justice.  Oftentimes, the injured person was a relative or friend traveling as a passenger when the accident happened.

    The best advice is never to drive if there is any chance you might be above the legal blood alcohol limit.  Even when no accident happens, the penalties for driving while intoxicated are severe.  There are criminal DWI penalties and there are separate DWI penalties imposed by the Department of Motor Vehicles.

    In Connecticut, a person who operates a motor vehicle while his or her license is suspended for drunk driving faces a mandatory 30-day jail sentence.  Under the law, "operating" means not just driving a vehicle on a road, but also includes simply being in the driver's seat of a parked vehicle with the engine running if the vehicle is on a road or a parking lot having more than 10 spaces.

    We caution everyone to be extremely careful about drinking and driving.  We understand, however, that people are human and make mistakes, and we are here to help you if find yourself facing DWI charges.

    As noted in the following charts, penalties for repeat DWI convictions within 10 years are increasingly more severe.

 

Criminal Penalties for Driving While Intoxicated

Arrest Conviction Mandatory Sentence Maximum Sentence Fines License Suspension
1st N/A (Eligible for Alcohol Education Program)
2nd 1st 48 hours or 100 hours community service 6 months $500 to $1000 1 year
3rd 2nd 120 days 2 years $1000 to $4000 3 years
4th 3rd 1 year 3 years $2000 to $8000 permanent

   

    In addition to suspending driver's licenses for criminal convictions as noted in the previous chart, the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will suspend a driver's license for persons who fail a breathalyzer or other blood alcohol level test or who refuse to take the test.  This means that someone who avoids a criminal conviction by using the alcohol education program may still have his or her license suspended by DMV.  The DWI suspension will be for 90 days if the person's blood alcohol level is over 0.08 but less than 0.16, for 120 days if the level is over 0.16, or for 6 months if the person refused the test.

Department of Motor Vehicle License Suspension for Driving While Intoxicated
Arrest 0.08 to 0.15 0.16 or Over Refusal
1st 90 days 120 days 6 months
2nd 9 months 10 months 1 year
3rd 2 years 2 1/2 years 3 years

 

When You Need a Criminal Defense Lawyer,

Rely on Us for Skill, Determination and Experience.

 

 

 

 

Felonies

 

Misdemeanors

 

Driving While Intoxicated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Find Out About:

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What to do if you are arrested.

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How many drinks is too many.

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What not to do if you have a criminal case.

 

Please note that our website is designed to provide only general legal information.

This information is not intended to apply to individual cases.

If you have a legal matter, you should speak with and hire an attorney to handle your specific situation.