A first OUI arrest can create both a criminal case and separate driver’s-license issues. Connecticut law commonly uses OUI; many clients search for the same charge as DUI.
The criminal prosecution and DMV administrative process are separate. Deadlines and consequences should be identified immediately.
Driving observations, stop legality, field sobriety tests, body-camera video, statements, breath or other chemical testing, timing, and instrument or laboratory records can all matter.
As of August 20, 2026, General Statutes § 14-227a provides a $500–$1,000 fine and up to six months of incarceration for a first conviction. The sentencing provision requires either 48 consecutive hours that may not be suspended or reduced, or a sentence of up to six months that is fully suspended with probation conditioned on 100 hours of community service.
The statute also provides a 45-day license suspension following a first conviction and a one-year ignition-interlock requirement after restoration. Separate administrative-per-se consequences can begin from the arrest itself and should be analyzed independently.
Primary sources reviewed August 20, 2026: General Statutes § 14-227a (2026 Supplement) and Connecticut DMV — Driving Under the Influence.
Eligibility for statutory programs and available dispositions depends on the current law and the person’s record. Do not assume that “first arrest” automatically answers eligibility.
A first arrest may create an important diversionary option, but availability does not mean the program is automatically the right strategic choice. We first want to know whether the State can prove operation, whether the stop was lawful, what the video shows, how the field tests were administered, what statements were made, and what the chemical-testing evidence actually establishes.
If there is a substantial defense, using a limited program opportunity simply because it is easier may sacrifice an option the client could value later. Once the evidence is understood, we review the choices with the client and make the decision together.