Experienced DUI Defense Lawyer Protects Rights Of New London County Drivers
After a drunk driving arrest in New London County, call Connecticut DUI defense lawyer Jack O’Donnell to protect your career, license, and future.
Driving under the influence is a terrible idea anywhere, but New London County in Connecticut is perhaps the worst possible place to take the wheel after drinking. Not only does Connecticut have some of the harshest penalties for Driving Under the Influence (DUI), but it also has among the highest rates of drunk driving fatalities in the country. And New London County has the highest in the state.
Unfortunately, these tragic statistics have only made law enforcement more intent on catching and punishing drunk drivers. This means that drivers rightly or wrongly accused of driving under the influence in New London County will need a particularly skilled defense attorney.
Luckily for them, Connecticut DUI defense lawyer Jack O’Donnell has over four decades of experience keeping up with the state's DUI laws, practices, and defense strategies. With his help, if you are ever arrested and charged with OWI, DUI, or DWI, you may be able to minimize the damage it will do to your life, or even get the charges dropped or reduced.
FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION | (203) 787-8603
But Wait, What Is The Difference Between DUI, OWI, And DWI Charges In Connecticut?
New London County hasn’t had a centralized police force since the sheriff was shut down in 2000, between that and all its different courts and towns, the county justice system can seem a little disjointed. Perhaps that is why, for the same facts and circumstances, end up being changed with one of three nominally different offenses: DWI, OWI, or DUI.
What do all these drunk driving acronyms stand for?
- DUI - Driving Under the Influence
- DWI - Driving While Impaired (or Intoxicated)
- OWI - Operating While Impaired (or Intoxicated)
While these all sound different, there is for all intents and purposes no meaningful legal distinction between them. For ease of use, we will mostly stick to DUI and DWI which are the most common charges.
Each one involves the same two facts:
- You were caught driving or operating a vehicle (this can be as simple as being asleep behind the wheel with a key in the ignition).
- You were impaired by alcohol, drugs, or both (some legal prescription medications can count for this!).
A blood alcohol test result of .08% or higher is often considered sufficient proof of this, even if no impairment was directly observed by officers.
Each of these offenses also carries the same potential legal penalties, in addition to all the possible adverse consequences a conviction can have on your life.
What Are The DUI Penalties A Connecticut Lawyer Can Protect You From?
Regardless of where you are arrested or which acronym you get charged with, DUIs come with a largely predetermined set of legal consequences you will have a hard time avoiding without the help of a good lawyer.
- Fines - Every DUI conviction will invariably come with a hefty fine you will have to pay or face even worse consequences.
- Jail Time - The more serious DWI or DUI convictions may also result in jail time, which can sometimes be reduced to probation or otherwise diverted with the help of an attorney.
- License Suspensions - for obvious reasons, the state does not want drunk drivers on the road, and will in most circumstances automatically suspend your driver’s license.
The extent and severity of these penalties, such as the amount of the fine, length of jail time, or duration of license suspension, depends on the charge you are facing.
If there are aggravating factors involved in your arrest, such as the presence of a child, an extremely high blood alcohol content, or injuries caused by your actions, the penalties will all be more severe. Additionally, if this is not your first DUI conviction, then the law mandates higher and higher penalties for subsequent offenses, which can increase almost exponentially.
A lawyer, however, may often be able to make a bid difference when it comes to the penalties you end up with. By negotiating, pursuing alternate sentencing options, helping you pursue mitigating strategies, or contesting state evidence, a DUI defense attorney can help you reduce the effects of some convictions, and even help you avoid others entirely.
This will also ensure you do not deal with any of the other indirect and long-term consequences of a DUI conviction in New London County.
FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION | (203) 787-8603
Why Is It So Important To Work With A Lawyer To Avoid A DUI Conviction?
DWI convictions come with a whole host of additional consequences that no judge will tell you about. These repercussions can include:
- Increased insurance premiums,
- Being unable to get a job or promotion,
- The suspension or loss of a professional license,
- Denial of bank loans,
- Custody consequences during divorce,
- Colleges or universities may refuse, suspend, or expel you,
- Negative effects any other time having a conviction on your record could be relevant.
These consequences are, in many ways, worse than direct legal penalties, especially since they can come up years down the line when it is far too late to fight the conviction in court.
That is why if you are facing DUI, DWI, or OWI charges in New London County, Connecticut, you should never wait to see what will happen, but reach out to a defense lawyer right away. With skill built on 40 years of experience, a lawyer like Jack O’Donnell and his team can potentially make a substantial impact on the severity of both sets of consequences, but only if you reach out in time.
Call A New London County DUI Defense Attorney As Soon As You Have Been Arrested!
Jack O’Donnell | New London County DUI defense lawyer ready to put his considerable experience to work defending your freedom and future.
Few things are as stressful as being pulled over, then hauled away to a police station, or suspected drunk driving. If this happens to you or a loved one in New London County, stay calm, because no outcome is certain. Instead of panicking, contact Connecticut DUI defense lawyer Jack O’Donnell as soon as possible to give him the best chance of making a meaningful difference.
To benefit from attorney Jack O’Donnell’s extensive DUI defense experience all you have to do is pick up the phone and call (203) 787-8603.