Many people assume that a DUI charge only applies to alcohol. In reality, under Connecticut law, you can be arrested for driving under the influence of prescription medications — even if you took them exactly as your doctor instructed.
As a criminal defense lawyer, I see many clients blindsided by DUI arrests tied to Ambien, Xanax, painkillers, or other legal prescriptions.
Connecticut’s Shockingly Broad Definition of “Operation”Here’s the hard truth: even if you know you’re intoxicated and pull off the road to a parking lot or stop your car to avoid driving further, you can still be arrested and charged with DUI in Connecticut. You don’t even have to be driving down the road. Simply sitting in your car under the wrong circumstances is considered “operation.”
In my view, that’s a poor policy decision. It punishes people who are actually trying to do the responsible thing and not endanger others by driving further. But it is the law. The Connecticut Appellate Court in State v. Ducatt, 22 Conn. App. 88 (1990) held that “operation” includes taking actions such as inserting the key into the ignition or sitting in a running vehicle, even if the car never moves an inch.
The Big MisconceptionNow that marijuana is legal in Connecticut, a lot of people think it’s safe to light up and drive. I can’t tell you how many calls I get from people who are stunned when they get arrested for DUI after smoking the night before, or even hours earlier. They’ll say to me, “But I thought it was legal now?”
Here’s the truth: marijuana may be legal to use, but it is still absolutely illegal to drive under its influence. Police in Connecticut are watching closely, and cannabis DUI cases are being prosecuted just as aggressively as alcohol DUIs.
One of the very first questions I hear from clients who call me after a DUI arrest is: “Am I facing a felony?”It’s a fair question — the word “felony” carries a lot of weight. Felonies mean harsher penalties, longer jail time, and lifelong consequences that can affect jobs, housing, and your future.
The good news is that in Connecticut, most first-time DUI arrests are not felonies. If this is your first offense, it will usually be treated as a misdemeanor. In many cases, there are diversionary programs available — such as the Impaired Driving Intervention Program (IDIP) — that can keep your record clean if you complete them successfully.
Legal Weed, Serious Risks: The Reality of Driving Under the Influence in ConnecticutRecreational marijuana is now legal for adults in Connecticut—but don’t mistake legalization for a free pass to drive after using cannabis. Law enforcement has ramped up efforts to crack down on drugged driving, and a conviction can have devastating consequences: loss of your license, steep fines, possible jail time, and a permanent criminal record.
At The Law Offices of Allan F. Friedman, we’ve been defending clients accused of DUI and drug offenses in Stamford, Norwalk, Bridgeport, and across Connecticut for over 30 years. Here’s what you need to know about how the law works, why these cases are so aggressively prosecuted, and how we fight to protect our clients’ futures.
Getting pulled over on suspicion of drunk driving in Connecticut can be one of the most intimidating experiences of your life. The flashing lights, the officer’s questions, and the immediate pressure to comply with every request can leave you feeling powerless. However, what you decide to do in the minutes after being stopped can have a massive impact on the outcome of your case.
Many people don’t realize that you have the right to refuse certain tests—but refusing others could cause serious problems. Specifically, you should never submit to field sobriety tests in Connecticut, but you should almost always consent to a breathalyzer test.
If you’ve been arrested for DUI in Connecticut, your next steps can mean the difference between protecting your future and making matters worse. As an experienced Connecticut criminal defense attorney, I’ve seen how even well-meaning people make critical errors that damage their cases. This expanded guide not only breaks down the ten most common—and most costly—mistakes people make after a DUI arrest in Connecticut, but also provides real-world case examples to show how these mistakes can impact your outcome.
After a DUI arrest, you might feel tempted to “explain” your side. In Connecticut, anything you say can and will be used against you. Many clients think cooperating fully means telling their story right away—but police are trained to gather evidence, not to clear your name.
The purpose of this article is to examine the circumstances of the recent Tiger Woods’s DWI arrest and see what lessons it can teach us about how to react when pulled over for a DUI/DWI stop in Connecticut.
I am sure that by now almost everyone has seen the Police dash cam footage of the world famous golfer Tiger Woods fumbling around trying to recite the alphabet This was a huge embarrassment for Tiger Woods but it can really teach us a lot of things about how to react if you are pulled over for a DUI/DWI by Connecticut Police. Certainly, if Tiger Woods had known his Constitutional Rights better he would have not only saved himself a lot of humiliation but he may have also been able to beat the charge of DWI as well.
Lesson Number 1 – You have the Right to Remain Silent!
Connecticut Criminal Lawyer Blog