Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 248 - Vehicle Highway Use
Section 14-227a. - *(See end of section for amended versions of subsections (a) to (e) and subsection (j) and effective date.) Operation while under the influence of liquor or drug or while having an elevated blood alcohol content.

*(a) Operation while under the influence or while having an elevated blood alcohol content. No person shall operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug or both. A person commits the offense of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug or both if such person operates a motor vehicle (1) while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug or both, or (2) while such person has an elevated blood alcohol content. For the purposes of this section, “elevated blood alcohol content” means a ratio of alcohol in the blood of such person that is eight-hundredths of one per cent or more of alcohol, by weight, except that if such person is operating a commercial motor vehicle, “elevated blood alcohol content” means a ratio of alcohol in the blood of such person that is four-hundredths of one per cent or more of alcohol, by weight, and “motor vehicle” includes a snowmobile and all-terrain vehicle, as those terms are defined in section 14-379.

*(b) Admissibility of chemical analysis. Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, in any criminal prosecution for violation of subsection (a) of this section, evidence respecting the amount of alcohol or drug in the defendant's blood or urine at the time of the alleged offense, as shown by a chemical analysis of the defendant's breath, blood or urine shall be admissible and competent provided: (1) The defendant was afforded a reasonable opportunity to telephone an attorney prior to the performance of the test and consented to the taking of the test upon which such analysis is made; (2) a true copy of the report of the test result was mailed to or personally delivered to the defendant within twenty-four hours or by the end of the next regular business day, after such result was known, whichever is later; (3) the test was performed by or at the direction of a police officer according to methods and with equipment approved by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection and was performed in accordance with the regulations adopted under subsection (d) of this section; (4) the device used for such test was checked for accuracy in accordance with the regulations adopted under subsection (d) of this section; (5) an additional chemical test of the same type was performed at least ten minutes after the initial test was performed or, if requested by the police officer for reasonable cause, an additional chemical test of a different type was performed to detect the presence of a drug or drugs other than or in addition to alcohol, provided the results of the initial test shall not be inadmissible under this subsection if reasonable efforts were made to have such additional test performed in accordance with the conditions set forth in this subsection and such additional test was not performed or was not performed within a reasonable time, or the results of such additional test are not admissible for failure to meet a condition set forth in this subsection; and (6) evidence is presented that the test was commenced within two hours of operation. In any prosecution under this section it shall be a rebuttable presumption that the results of such chemical analysis establish the ratio of alcohol in the blood of the defendant at the time of the alleged offense, except that if the results of the additional test indicate that the ratio of alcohol in the blood of such defendant is ten-hundredths of one per cent or less of alcohol, by weight, and is higher than the results of the first test, evidence shall be presented that demonstrates that the test results and the analysis thereof accurately indicate the blood alcohol content at the time of the alleged offense.
*(c) Evidence of blood alcohol content. In any prosecution for a violation of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section, reliable evidence respecting the amount of alcohol in the defendant's blood or urine at the time of the alleged offense, as shown by a chemical analysis of the defendant's blood, breath or urine, otherwise admissible under subsection (b) of this section, shall be admissible only at the request of the defendant.
*(d) Testing and analysis of blood, breath and urine. The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall ascertain the reliability of each method and type of device offered for chemical testing and analysis purposes of blood, of breath and of urine and certify those methods and types which said commissioner finds suitable for use in testing and analysis of blood, breath and urine, respectively, in this state. The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, governing the conduct of chemical tests, the operation and use of chemical test devices, the training and certification of operators of such devices and the drawing or obtaining of blood, breath or urine samples as said commissioner finds necessary to protect the health and safety of persons who submit to chemical tests and to insure reasonable accuracy in testing results. Such regulations shall not require recertification of a police officer solely because such officer terminates such officer's employment with the law enforcement agency for which certification was originally issued and commences employment with another such agency.
*(e) Evidence of refusal to submit to test. In any criminal prosecution for a violation of subsection (a) of this section, evidence that the defendant refused to submit to a blood, breath or urine test requested in accordance with section 14-227b shall be admissible provided the requirements of subsection (b) of said section have been satisfied. If a case involving a violation of subsection (a) of this section is tried to a jury, the court shall instruct the jury as to any inference that may or may not be drawn from the defendant's refusal to submit to a blood, breath or urine test.
(f) Reduction, nolle or dismissal prohibited. If a person is charged with a violation of the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, the charge may not be reduced, nolled or dismissed unless the prosecuting authority states in open court such prosecutor's reasons for the reduction, nolle or dismissal.
(g) Penalties for operation while under the influence. Any person who violates any provision of subsection (a) of this section shall: (1) For conviction of a first violation, (A) be fined not less than five hundred dollars or more than one thousand dollars, and (B) be (i) imprisoned not more than six months, forty-eight consecutive hours of which may not be suspended or reduced in any manner, or (ii) imprisoned not more than six months, with the execution of such sentence of imprisonment suspended entirely and a period of probation imposed requiring as a condition of such probation that such person perform one hundred hours of community service, as defined in section 14-227e, and (C) have such person's motor vehicle operator's license or nonresident operating privilege suspended for forty-five days and, as a condition for the restoration of such license, be required to install an ignition interlock device on each motor vehicle owned or operated by such person and, upon such restoration, be prohibited for the one-year period following such restoration from operating a motor vehicle unless such motor vehicle is equipped with a functioning, approved ignition interlock device, as defined in section 14-227j; (2) for conviction of a second violation within ten years after a prior conviction for the same offense, (A) be fined not less than one thousand dollars or more than four thousand dollars, (B) be imprisoned not more than two years, one hundred twenty consecutive days of which may not be suspended or reduced in any manner, and sentenced to a period of probation requiring as a condition of such probation that such person: (i) Perform one hundred hours of community service, as defined in section 14-227e, (ii) submit to an assessment through the Court Support Services Division of the Judicial Branch of the degree of such person's alcohol or drug abuse, and (iii) undergo a treatment program if so ordered, and (C) have such person's motor vehicle operator's license or nonresident operating privilege suspended for forty-five days and, as a condition for the restoration of such license, be required to install an ignition interlock device on each motor vehicle owned or operated by such person and, upon such restoration, be prohibited for the three-year period following such restoration from operating a motor vehicle unless such motor vehicle is equipped with a functioning, approved ignition interlock device, as defined in section 14-227j, except that for the first year of such three-year period, such person's operation of a motor vehicle shall be limited to such person's transportation to or from work or school, an alcohol or drug abuse treatment program, an ignition interlock device service center or an appointment with a probation officer; and (3) for conviction of a third and subsequent violation within ten years after a prior conviction for the same offense, (A) be fined not less than two thousand dollars or more than eight thousand dollars, (B) be imprisoned not more than three years, one year of which may not be suspended or reduced in any manner, and sentenced to a period of probation requiring as a condition of such probation that such person: (i) Perform one hundred hours of community service, as defined in section 14-227e, (ii) submit to an assessment through the Court Support Services Division of the Judicial Branch of the degree of such person's alcohol or drug abuse, and (iii) undergo a treatment program if so ordered, and (C) have such person's motor vehicle operator's license or nonresident operating privilege permanently revoked upon such third offense, except that if such person's revocation is reversed or reduced pursuant to subsection (i) of section 14-111, such person shall be prohibited from operating a motor vehicle unless such motor vehicle is equipped with a functioning, approved ignition interlock device, as defined in section 14-227j, for the time period prescribed in subdivision (2) of subsection (i) of section 14-111. For purposes of the imposition of penalties for a second or third and subsequent offense pursuant to this subsection, a conviction under the provisions of subsection (a) of this section in effect on October 1, 1981, or as amended thereafter, a conviction under the provisions of either subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of this section, a conviction under the provisions of section 14-227m, a conviction under the provisions of subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of section 14-227n, a conviction under the provisions of section 53a-56b or 53a-60d or a conviction in any other state of any offense the essential elements of which are determined by the court to be substantially the same as subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of this section, section 14-227m, subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of section 14-227n or section 53a-56b or 53a-60d, shall constitute a prior conviction for the same offense.
(h) Suspension of operator's license or nonresident operating privilege. (1) Each court shall report each conviction under subsection (a) of this section to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, in accordance with the provisions of section 14-141. The commissioner shall suspend the motor vehicle operator's license or nonresident operating privilege of the person reported as convicted for the period of time required by subsection (g) of this section. The commissioner shall determine the period of time required by subsection (g) of this section based on the number of convictions such person has had within the specified time period according to such person's driving history record, notwithstanding the sentence imposed by the court for such conviction. (2) The motor vehicle operator's license or nonresident operating privilege of a person found guilty under subsection (a) of this section who, at the time of the offense, was operating a motor vehicle in accordance with a special operator's permit issued pursuant to section 14-37a shall be suspended by the commissioner for twice the period of time set forth in subsection (g) of this section. (3) If an appeal of any conviction under subsection (a) of this section is taken, the suspension of the motor vehicle operator's license or nonresident operating privilege by the commissioner, in accordance with this subsection, shall be stayed during the pendency of such appeal.
(i) Ignition interlock device. (1) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall permit a person whose license has been suspended in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (C) of subdivision (1) or subparagraph (C) of subdivision (2) of subsection (g) of this section to operate a motor vehicle if (A) such person has served either the suspension required under said subparagraph (C) or the suspension required under subsection (i) of section 14-227b, and (B) such person has installed an approved ignition interlock device in each motor vehicle owned or to be operated by such person, and verifies to the commissioner, in such manner as the commissioner prescribes, that such device has been installed. For a period of one year after the installation of an ignition interlock device by a person who is subject to subparagraph (C) of subdivision (2) of subsection (g) of this section, such person's operation of a motor vehicle shall be limited to such person's transportation to or from work or school, an alcohol or drug abuse treatment program, an ignition interlock device service center or an appointment with a probation officer. Except as provided in sections 53a-56b and 53a-60d, no person whose license is suspended by the commissioner for any other reason shall be eligible to operate a motor vehicle equipped with an approved ignition interlock device.
(2) All costs of installing and maintaining an ignition interlock device shall be borne by the person required to install such device. No court sentencing a person convicted of a violation of subsection (a) of this section may waive any fees or costs associated with the installation and maintenance of an ignition interlock device.
(3) The commissioner shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this subsection. The regulations shall establish procedures for the approval of ignition interlock devices, for the proper calibration and maintenance of such devices and for the installation of such devices by any firm approved and authorized by the commissioner and shall specify acts by persons required to install and use such devices that constitute a failure to comply with the requirements for the installation and use of such devices, the conditions under which such noncompliance will result in an extension of the period during which such persons are restricted to the operation of motor vehicles equipped with such devices and the duration of any such extension. The commissioner shall ensure that such firm provide notice to both the commissioner and the Court Support Services Division of the Judicial Branch whenever a person required to install such device commits a violation with respect to the installation, maintenance or use of such device.
(4) The provisions of this subsection shall not be construed to authorize the continued operation of a motor vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device by any person whose operator's license or nonresident operating privilege is withdrawn, suspended or revoked for any other reason.
(5) The provisions of this subsection shall apply to any person whose license has been suspended in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (C) of subdivision (1) or subparagraph (C) of subdivision (2) of subsection (g) of this section on or after January 1, 2012.
(6) Whenever a person is permitted by the commissioner under this subsection to operate a motor vehicle if such person has installed an approved ignition interlock device in each motor vehicle owned or to be operated by such person, the commissioner shall indicate in the electronic record maintained by the commissioner pertaining to such person's operator's license or driving history that such person is restricted to operating a motor vehicle that is equipped with an ignition interlock device and, if applicable, that such person's operation of a motor vehicle is limited to such person's transportation to or from work or school, an alcohol or drug abuse treatment program, an ignition interlock device service center or an appointment with a probation officer, and the duration of such restriction or limitation, and shall ensure that such electronic record is accessible by law enforcement officers. Any such person shall pay the commissioner a fee of one hundred dollars prior to the installation of such device.
(7) There is established the ignition interlock administration account which shall be a separate, nonlapsing account in the General Fund. The commissioner shall deposit all fees paid pursuant to subdivision (6) of this subsection in the account. Funds in the account may be used by the commissioner for the administration of this subsection.
(8) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes to the contrary, upon request of any person convicted of a violation of subsection (a) of this section whose operator's license is under suspension on January 1, 2012, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may reduce the term of suspension prescribed in subsection (g) of this section and place a restriction on the operator's license of such person that restricts the holder of such license to the operation of a motor vehicle that is equipped with an approved ignition interlock device, as defined in section 14-227j, for the remainder of such prescribed period of suspension.
(9) Any person required to install an ignition interlock device under this section shall be supervised by personnel of the Court Support Services Division of the Judicial Branch while such person is subject to probation supervision, or by personnel of the Department of Motor Vehicles if such person is not subject to probation supervision, and such person shall be subject to any other terms and conditions as the commissioner may prescribe and any provision of the general statutes or the regulations adopted pursuant to subdivision (3) of this subsection not inconsistent herewith.
(10) Notwithstanding the periods prescribed in subsection (g) of this section and subdivision (2) of subsection (i) of section 14-111 during which a person is prohibited from operating a motor vehicle unless such motor vehicle is equipped with a functioning, approved ignition interlock device, such periods may be extended in accordance with the regulations adopted pursuant to subdivision (3) of this subsection.
*(j) Participation in alcohol education and treatment program. In addition to any fine or sentence imposed pursuant to the provisions of subsection (g) of this section, the court may order such person to participate in an alcohol education and treatment program.
(k) Seizure and admissibility of medical records of injured operator. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, evidence respecting the amount of alcohol or drug in the blood or urine of an operator of a motor vehicle involved in an accident who has suffered or allegedly suffered physical injury in such accident, which evidence is derived from a chemical analysis of a blood sample taken from or a urine sample provided by such person after such accident at the scene of the accident, while en route to a hospital or at a hospital, shall be competent evidence to establish probable cause for the arrest by warrant of such person for a violation of subsection (a) of this section and shall be admissible and competent in any subsequent prosecution thereof if: (1) The blood sample was taken or the urine sample was provided for the diagnosis and treatment of such injury; (2) if a blood sample was taken, the blood sample was taken in accordance with the regulations adopted under subsection (d) of this section; (3) a police officer has demonstrated to the satisfaction of a judge of the Superior Court that such officer has reason to believe that such person was operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drug or both and that the chemical analysis of such blood or urine sample constitutes evidence of the commission of the offense of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drug or both in violation of subsection (a) of this section; and (4) such judge has issued a search warrant in accordance with section 54-33a authorizing the seizure of the chemical analysis of such blood or urine sample. Such search warrant may also authorize the seizure of the medical records prepared by the hospital in connection with the diagnosis or treatment of such injury.
(l) Participation in victim impact panel program. If the court sentences a person convicted of a violation of subsection (a) of this section to a period of probation, the court may require as a condition of such probation that such person participate in a victim impact panel program approved by the Court Support Services Division of the Judicial Branch. Such victim impact panel program shall provide a nonconfrontational forum for the victims of alcohol-related or drug-related offenses and offenders to share experiences on the impact of alcohol-related or drug-related incidents in their lives. Such victim impact panel program shall be conducted by a nonprofit organization that advocates on behalf of victims of accidents caused by persons who operated a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, or both. Such organization may assess a participation fee of not more than seventy-five dollars on any person required by the court to participate in such program.
(1963, P.A. 616, S. 1; February, 1965, P.A. 219; 1967, P.A. 612, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 450, S. 4; 1971, P.A. 318; 741; P.A. 73-253, S. 4; P.A. 75-308, S. 1; P.A. 76-6, S. 1, 2; P.A. 77-340, S. 8; 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 80-438, S. 2, 3; P.A. 81-144, S. 1, 2; 81-446, S. 2; P.A. 82-408, S. 2; P.A. 83-63, S. 1–3; 83-534, S. 1; 83-571, S. 4; P.A. 84-198, S. 3, 7; 84-429, S. 40; 84-546, S. 43, 173; P.A. 85-387, S. 1; 85-596, S. 1; P.A. 86-345; P.A. 88-85; 88-302; P.A. 89-110, S. 4; 89-314, S. 2, 5; P.A. 90-230, S. 21, 101; P.A. 91-407, S. 9, 42; P.A. 93-271, S. 2, 3; 93-302, S. 1–3; 93-371, S. 2, 4, 5; 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 94-60; May 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1, S. 18, 130; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; 95-314, S. 1; P.A. 99-218, S. 3, 4, 16; 99-255, S. 1; P.A. 00-196, S. 49, 50; P.A. 01-201, S. 1; P.A. 02-70, S. 69; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-1, S. 108; P.A. 03-265, S. 1; 03-278, S. 47; P.A. 04-199, S. 31; 04-257, S. 101; P.A. 05-218, S. 28; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 05-3, S. 111; P.A. 06-147, S. 1; P.A. 09-187, S. 42, 62, 66; P.A. 10-110, S. 6, 45, 46; P.A. 11-48, S. 51, 52; 11-51, S. 134, 216, 217; P.A. 12-178, S. 2, 3, 6; P.A. 13-271, S. 51–53; P.A. 14-228, S. 5; P.A. 16-126, S. 3.)
*Note: On and after April 1, 2022, subsections (a) to (e) and subsection (j) of this section, as amended by sections 116 and 117 of public act 21-1 of the June special session, are to read as follows:
“(a) No person shall operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug or both. A person commits the offense of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug or both if such person operates a motor vehicle (1) while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug or both, or (2) while such person has an elevated blood alcohol content. For the purposes of this section, “elevated blood alcohol content” means a ratio of alcohol in the blood of such person that is eight-hundredths of one per cent or more of alcohol, by weight, except that if such person is operating a commercial motor vehicle, “elevated blood alcohol content” means a ratio of alcohol in the blood of such person that is four-hundredths of one per cent or more of alcohol, by weight, and “motor vehicle” includes a snowmobile and all-terrain vehicle, as those terms are defined in section 14-379. For purposes of this section, section 14-227b and section 14-227c, (A) “advanced roadside impaired driving enforcement” means a program developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration with the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Technical Advisory Panel, which focuses on impaired driving enforcement education for police officers, or any successor to such program; (B) “drug influence evaluation” means an evaluation developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the International Association of Chiefs of Police that is conducted by a drug recognition expert to determine the level of a person's impairment from the use of drugs and the drug category causing such impairment; (C) “drug recognition expert” means a person certified by the International Association of Chiefs of Police as having met all requirements of the International Drug Evaluation and Classification Program; and (D) “nontestimonial portion of a drug influence evaluation” means a drug influence evaluation conducted by a drug recognition expert that does not include a verbal interview with the subject.
(b) Admissibility of chemical test. Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, in any criminal prosecution for violation of subsection (a) of this section, evidence respecting the amount of alcohol or drug in the defendant's blood or urine at the time of the alleged offense, as shown by a chemical test of the defendant's breath, blood or urine, shall be admissible and competent provided: (1) The defendant was afforded a reasonable opportunity to telephone an attorney prior to the performance of the test and consented to the taking of the test upon which such analysis is made; (2) a true copy of the report of the test result was mailed to or personally delivered to the defendant within twentyfour hours or by the end of the next regular business day, after such result was known, whichever is later; (3) the test was performed by or at the direction of a police officer according to methods and with equipment approved by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection and was performed in accordance with the regulations adopted under subsection (d) of this section; (4) the device used for such test was checked for accuracy in accordance with the regulations adopted under subsection (d) of this section; (5) an additional chemical test of the same type was performed at least ten minutes after the initial test was performed or, if requested by the police officer for reasonable cause, an additional chemical test of a different type was performed, including a test to detect the presence of a drug or drugs other than or in addition to alcohol, provided the results of the initial test shall not be inadmissible under this subsection if reasonable efforts were made to have such additional test performed in accordance with the conditions set forth in this subsection and (A) such additional test was not performed or was not performed within a reasonable time, or (B) the results of such additional test are not admissible for failure to meet a condition set forth in this subsection; and (6) evidence is presented that the test was commenced within two hours of operation. In any prosecution under this section it shall be a rebuttable presumption that the results of such chemical test establish the ratio of alcohol in the blood of the defendant at the time of the alleged offense, except that if the results of the additional test indicate that the ratio of alcohol in the blood of such defendant is ten-hundredths of one per cent or less of alcohol, by weight, and is higher than the results of the first test, evidence shall be presented that demonstrates that the test results and the analysis thereof accurately indicate the blood alcohol content at the time of the alleged offense.
(c) Evidence of blood alcohol content. In any prosecution for a violation of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section, reliable evidence respecting the amount of alcohol in the defendant's blood or urine at the time of the alleged offense, as shown by a chemical analysis of the defendant's blood, breath or urine, otherwise admissible under subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section, shall be admissible only at the request of the defendant.
(d) Testing of blood, breath and urine. The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall ascertain the reliability of each method and type of device offered for chemical testing of blood, of breath and of urine and certify those methods and types which the commissioner finds suitable for use in testing of blood, breath and urine, respectively, in this state. The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, governing the conduct of chemical tests, the operation and use of chemical test devices, the training and certification of operators of such devices and the drawing or obtaining of blood, breath or urine samples as the commissioner finds necessary to protect the health and safety of persons who submit to chemical tests and to insure reasonable accuracy in testing results. Such regulations shall not require recertification of a police officer solely because such officer terminates such officer's employment with the law enforcement agency for which certification was originally issued and commences employment with another such agency.
(e) Evidence of refusal to submit to test or evaluation. (1) In any criminal prosecution for a violation of subsection (a) of this section, evidence that the defendant refused to submit to a blood, breath or urine test or the nontestimonial portion of a drug influence evaluation requested in accordance with section 14-227b shall be admissible provided the requirements of subsection (b) of said section have been satisfied. If a case involving a violation of subsection (a) of this section is tried to a jury, the court shall instruct the jury as to any inference that may or may not be drawn from the defendant's refusal to submit to such a test or evaluation.
(2) In any prosecution for a violation of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section in which it is alleged that the defendant's operation of a motor vehicle was impaired, in whole or in part, by consumption of cannabis, as defined in section 21a-420, the court may take judicial notice that the ingestion of cannabis (A) can impair a person's ability to operate a motor vehicle; (B) can cause impairment of motor function, reaction time, tracking ability, cognitive attention, decision-making, judgment, perception, peripheral vision, impulse control or memory; and (C) does not enhance a person's ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.”
“(j) Participation in alcohol education and treatment program or pretrial impaired driving intervention program. In addition to any fine or sentence imposed pursuant to the provisions of subsection (g) of this section, the court may order such person to participate in an alcohol education and treatment program or the pretrial impaired driving intervention program established under section 54-56r, if such person was operating a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicating liquor or under the influence of both intoxicating liquor and any drug.”
(1963, P.A. 616, S. 1; February, 1965, P.A. 219; 1967, P.A. 612, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 450, S. 4; 1971, P.A. 318; 741; P.A. 73-253, S. 4; P.A. 75-308, S. 1; P.A. 76-6, S. 1, 2; P.A. 77-340, S. 8; 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 80-438, S. 2, 3; P.A. 81-144, S. 1, 2; 81-446, S. 2; P.A. 82-408, S. 2; P.A. 83-63, S. 1–3; 83-534, S. 1; 83-571, S. 4; P.A. 84-198, S. 3, 7; 84-429, S. 40; 84-546, S. 43, 173; P.A. 85-387, S. 1; 85-596, S. 1; P.A. 86-345; P.A. 88-85; 88-302; P.A. 89-110, S. 4; 89-314, S. 2, 5; P.A. 90-230, S. 21, 101; P.A. 91-407, S. 9, 42; P.A. 93-271, S. 2, 3; 93-302, S. 1–3; 93-371, S. 2, 4, 5; 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 94-60; May 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1, S. 18, 130; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; 95-314, S. 1; P.A. 99-218, S. 3, 4, 16; 99-255, S. 1; P.A. 00-196, S. 49, 50; P.A. 01-201, S. 1; P.A. 02-70, S. 69; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-1, S. 108; P.A. 03-265, S. 1; 03-278, S. 47; P.A. 04-199, S. 31; 04-257, S. 101; P.A. 05-218, S. 28; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 05-3, S. 111; P.A. 06-147, S. 1; P.A. 09-187, S. 42, 62, 66; P.A. 10-110, S. 6, 45, 46; P.A. 11-48, S. 51, 52; 11-51, S. 134, 216, 217; P.A. 12-178, S. 2, 3, 6; P.A. 13-271, S. 51–53; P.A. 14-228, S. 5; P.A. 16-126, S. 3; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-1, S. 116, 117.)
History: 1965 act added district roads to Subsec. (a); 1967 act prohibited operation of vehicle while under influence of both liquor and intoxicating drug in Subsec. (a); 1969 act included in prohibition operation of vehicle on private roads with established speed limits; 1971 acts included in prohibition operation of vehicle in parking area for ten or more cars, reduced alcohol in blood level from 0.15% to 0.10% of alcohol and clarified evidential aspect of test results in Subsec. (c)(2) and increased minimum fine from $100 to $150; P.A. 73-253 included in prohibition of Subsec. (a) operation of vehicle on school property; P.A. 75-308 amended Subsec. (b)(4) to require testing of device at beginning and end of workday rather than within 30 days of test and immediately after test administered; P.A. 76-6 included reference to amount of drug in system under Subsec. (b) and to urine tests under Subsecs. (b) and (d); P.A. 77-340 replaced reference to Sec. 14-219 in Subsec. (a) with reference to Sec. 14-218a; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner and department of health with commissioner and department of health services, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 80-438 allowed administering of test by emergency medical technician II; P.A. 81-144 amended Subsec. (b) to allow the department of health services to certify individuals other than health services department personnel to check test devices for accuracy; P.A. 81-446 added the requirements that two tests be performed, with the second test performed not less than 30 or more than 40 minutes after the first test, and that evidence be presented which demonstrates that the test results accurately reflect the blood alcohol content at the time of the alleged offense in Subsec. (b) and added Subsecs. (e) and (f) re participation in an alcohol education and treatment program in lieu of the 2-day minimum mandatory sentence, and re violations charged to persons arrested for a second or subsequent violation of section, with a blood alcohol ratio of at least 0.10% or more of alcohol at the time of the alleged offense; P.A. 82-408 eliminated two test requirement in Subsec. (b), added provision in Subsec. (e) re mandatory 2-day sentence if blood alcohol test indicates ratio of alcohol in blood was 0.20% or more of alcohol and changed 2-day minimum mandatory sentence for second offenders to 30-day sentence served by performing community service on fifteen weekends, such service to be approved by office of adult probation, amended Subsec. (f) by changing “in lieu of” to “in addition to” and eliminated consent and payment requirement for participation and added Subsec. (h) providing for 24-hour revocation of license by arresting police officer; P.A. 83-63 amended Subsec. (b) to allow test reports to be personally delivered to the defendant by the close of the next business day, if later than 24 hours and authorized the performance of such tests by persons recertified by persons certified by the commissioner of health services and amended Subsec. (d) to provide regulations for annual recertification of operators; P.A. 83-534 inserted a new Subsec. (b) re operation while impaired, amended Subsec. (c) to permit the test result to be “personally delivered” to the defendant within 24 hours “or by the end of the next regular business day”, whichever is later, and to provide that the initial test results will not be excluded if the police made reasonable efforts to have an additional test performed but it was not performed within a reasonable time, amended Subsec. (d) to specify the blood alcohol content that constitutes impairment, inserted a new Subsec. (f) re the admissibility into evidence of a defendant's refusal to submit to a test, inserted a new Subsec. (g) re a prohibition on reducing, nolleing or dismissing the charge, inserted a new Subsec. (h) to replace former penalties for operation while under the influence with new penalties, inserted a new Subsec. (i) re the penalty for operating while impaired, inserted a new Subsec. (j) re the suspension of the operator's license of a person found guilty of operating while under the influence, and relettered the intervening and remaining subsections accordingly; P.A. 83-571 amended new Subsec. (h) to increase the period of license suspension provided in P.A. 83-534 from 6 months to 1 year for a first offense and from 1 year to 2 years for a second offense; P.A. 84-198 amended Subsec. (f) by replacing “the case” with “a case involving a violation of subsection (a) of this section”; P.A. 84-429 rephrased provisions and made other technical changes in Subsecs. (a) and (b); P.A. 84-546 made technical change in Subsec. (i); P.A. 85-387 amended Subsec. (h) to increase the penalty for a first violation by mandating a term of imprisonment, 48 consecutive hours of which may not be suspended or reduced on any manner, or a term of 100 hours of community service, to increase the minimum mandatory penalty for a second violation from 48 consecutive hours to 10 days, to increase the minimum mandatory penalty for a third violation from 30 to 120 days, and to provide that a second, third, fourth or subsequent violation is one which occurs within 5 years after a prior conviction for the same offense; P.A. 85-596 amended Subsec. (a) to add provision that person commits offense of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence “while the ratio of alcohol in the blood of such person is 0.10% or more of alcohol, by weight”, amended Subsec. (c) to provide that the defendant be afforded a reasonable opportunity to telephone an attorney prior to the performance of the test and that the test be performed by or at the direction of a police officer, to make an additional test mandatory rather than optional, to insert “and the analysis thereof” in Subdiv. (6) and to delete the requirement that additional competent evidence be presented bearing on the question of whether or not the defendant was under the influence, amended Subsec. (d) to replace provisions concerning the weight to be given to evidence of certain percentages of blood-alcohol content with provision that in prosecution for violation of Subsec. (a)(1) such evidence shall be admissible only at the request of the defendant, and amended Subsec. (h) to provide that a conviction under either Subdiv. (1) or (2) of Subsec. (a) constitutes a prior offense; P.A. 86-345 added Subsec. (m) re the seizure, admissibility and competency of evidence derived from a chemical analysis of a blood sample taken from an injured operator at a hospital; P.A. 88-85 amended Subsec. (c)(4) to require that the device be checked for accuracy immediately before and after the test was performed rather than at the beginning of each workday and no later than the end of each workday; P.A. 88-302 amended Subsec. (h) to provide that the performance of community service for conviction of a first violation is to be as a condition of probation imposed in connection with a sentence to a term of imprisonment of not more than six months with the execution of such sentence of imprisonment suspended entirely; P.A. 89-110 amended Subsec. (h) to make a technical change in Subdiv. (2) and to provide that for purposes of the penalty for a subsequent offense after a prior conviction for the same offense a conviction under Sec. 53a-56b or 53a-60d constitutes a prior conviction for the same offense; P.A. 89-314 amended Subsec. (h) to insert “consecutive” in Subdivs. (2) and (3) and deleted Subsec. (l) re the 24-hour revocation by the arresting police officer of the license of a person with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10% or more, and relettered the remaining Subsec. accordingly; P.A. 90-230 made technical change in Subsec. (e); P.A. 91-407 amended Subsec. (l)(2) by adding “a resident physician or intern in any hospital in this state” and made technical change in Subsec. (l)(3); P.A. 93-271 amended Subsec. (e) to provide that regulations shall not require recertification of a police officer solely because he transfers from one law enforcement agency to another, effective June 29, 1993; P.A. 93-302 amended Subsecs. (c) and (l) by adding phlebotomists to the list of persons qualified to take blood samples and added Subsec. (m) defining “phlebotomist”; P.A. 93-371 amended Subsec. (c)(6) to require that evidence be presented “that the test was commenced within two hours of operation” rather than that evidence be presented “which demonstrates that the test results and analysis thereof accurately reflect the blood alcohol content at the time of the alleged offense” and to add provision establishing a rebuttable presumption that the results of the chemical analysis indicate the blood alcohol ratio at the time of the alleged offense and requiring additional evidence be presented when the results of the additional test indicate a blood alcohol ratio of 0.12% or less and is higher than the results of the first test and added Subsec. (j)(3) re the period of suspension for a person who, at the time of the offense, was operating under a special operator's permit issued pursuant to Sec. 14-37a, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-381 replaced department and commissioner of health services with department and commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 94-60 amended Subsec. (l) to authorize the taking of a blood sample “at the scene of the accident” or “while en route to the hospital” rather than only “at a hospital”, to delete the requirement in Subdiv. (1) that the blood sample be taken “in the regular course of business of the hospital” and to make a technical change in Subdiv. (2); May 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1 made technical change, effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 95-314 amended Subsec. (c)(5) to allow an additional chemical test of a different type to be performed if requested by the police officer for reasonable cause, amended Subsec. (d) to eliminate reference to drugs, and amended Subsec. (h)(2) to (4), inclusive, to provide that a second, third, fourth or subsequent violation is one which occurs within 10 years, in lieu of 5 years, after a prior conviction for the same offense; P.A. 99-218 amended Subsecs. (c) and (e) by replacing the Department and Commissioner of Public Health with the Department and Commissioner of Public Safety and by making technical changes, effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 99-255 amended Subsec. (a) to replace the prohibition in Subdiv. (2) of operating a motor vehicle “while the ratio of alcohol in the blood of such person is 0.10% or more of alcohol, by weight” with “while such person has an elevated blood alcohol content” and added definition of “elevated blood alcohol content”, amended Subsec. (c)(3) to require that the test be performed “in accordance with the regulations adopted under subsection (e) of this section”, replacing provisions that required the test be performed by persons certified or recertified by the Department of Public Health or recertified by persons certified as instructors by the commissioner of said department and that required a blood test be taken by a physician, phlebotomist, qualified laboratory technician, emergency medical technician II or registered nurse, and amended Subsec. (c)(4) to require that the device was checked for accuracy “in accordance with the regulations adopted under subsection (e) of this section” rather than “immediately before and after such test was performed by a person certified by the Department of Public Health”, amended Subsec. (e) to make provisions applicable to methods and types of devices for the “analysis” of blood, breath and urine and to replace provision that required the Commissioner of Public Health to adopt regulations “governing the conduct of chemical tests, the operation and use of chemical test devices, and the training, certification and annual recertification of operators of such devices” with provision that required the “Commissioner of Public Safety, in consultation with the Commissioner of Public Health” to adopt regulations “governing the conduct of chemical tests, the operation and use of chemical test devices, the training and certification of operators of such devices and the drawing or obtaining of blood, breath or urine samples”, amended Subsec. (h) to increase the penalties for a second violation by increasing the fine from not less than $500 nor more than $2,000 to not less than $1,000 nor more than $4,000, increasing the term of imprisonment from a maximum of 1 year with a nonsuspendable period of 10 consecutive days to a maximum of 2 years with a nonsuspendable period of 120 consecutive days, adding the requirement that the person perform 100 hours of community service as a condition of probation, and increasing the license suspension from 2 years to “three years or until the date of such person's twenty-first birthday, whichever is longer”, to increase the penalties for a third and subsequent violation by deleting former Subdiv. (3) that had specified penalties for a third violation, renumbering former Subdiv. (4) as Subdiv. (3), amending said Subdiv. (3) to make the penalties applicable to a “third and subsequent violation” rather than a “fourth and subsequent violation” and add requirement that the person perform 100 hours of community service as a condition of probation, and to add provision that “a conviction in any other state of any offense the essential elements of which are determined by the court to be substantially the same as subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of this section or 53a-56b or 53a-60d” constitutes a prior conviction, amended Subsec. (i) to change the penalty from an infraction to a fine of not more than $200, amended Subsec. (j) to replace provisions of Subdiv. (1) requiring that the suspension take effect immediately upon the expiration of the appeal period, providing that the suspension is stayed during the appeal and requiring the defendant to send his license or nonresident operating privilege to the department when the suspension takes effect, with new provisions requiring each court to report each conviction to the department and requiring the commissioner to suspend the license or nonresident operating privilege for the time period required by Subsec. (h), to add Subdiv. (4) requiring the license of a convicted person to indicate that such person is an at-risk operator and defining “at-risk operator” and to add Subdiv. (5) providing that the suspension by the commissioner is stayed during the pendency of an appeal of a conviction, amended Subsec. (l) to make provisions applicable to evidence from an analysis of a urine sample from the injured operator, to require in Subdiv. (2) that the blood sample was taken “in accordance with regulations adopted under subsection (e) of this section” rather than “by a person licensed to practice medicine in this state, a resident physician or intern in any hospital in this state, a phlebotomist, a qualified laboratory technician, an emergency medical technician II or a registered nurse”, and to add provision that the search warrant may also authorize the seizure of medical records prepared by the hospital in connection with the diagnosis or treatment of such injury, deleted former Subsec. (m) defining “phlebotomist”, and made technical changes for purposes of gender neutrality; P.A. 00-196 made technical changes in Subsecs. (h) and (l); P.A. 01-201 added Subsec. (m) to authorize the court to require participation in a victim impact panel program as a condition of probation; P.A. 02-70 amended Subsec. (j)(1) by adding provision requiring that commissioner determine the applicable suspension period based on the number of convictions on the person's driving history record, notwithstanding the sentence imposed by the court for such conviction, deleting former Subdiv. (4) re mandatory indication of “at-risk operator” on reverse side of operator's license and redesignating existing Subdiv. (5) as Subdiv. (4), effective July 1, 2002; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-1 amended Subsec. (a) to reduce ratio of alcohol in blood from 0.10% to 0.08% or more of alcohol in definition of “elevated blood alcohol content” and eliminated from such definition Subpara. (A) designator and provisions of Subpara. (B) “if such person has been convicted of a violation of this subsection, a ratio of alcohol in the blood of such person that is 0.07% or more of alcohol, by weight”, deleted former Subsecs. (b) and (i) re offense of operation while impaired and fine for violation, redesignated existing Subsecs. (c) to (h) as Subsecs. (b) to (g) and existing Subsecs. (j) to (m) as Subsecs. (h) to (k), amended redesignated Subsec. (d) to eliminate reference to Commissioner of Public Health in adopting regulations re chemical tests, and made technical changes throughout, effective July 1, 2002; P.A. 03-265 amended Subsec. (g)(2)(C) to designate existing provision re duration of suspension as clause (i) and to add clause (ii) re license suspension of 1 year followed by a prohibition for 2 years on operating a motor vehicle unless the motor vehicle is equipped with an ignition interlock device if the person is convicted of a violation of Subsec. (a)(1) on account of being under the influence of intoxicating liquor or of Subsec. (a)(2); P.A. 03-278 made technical changes in Subsec. (g), effective July 9, 2003; P.A. 04-199 made a technical change in Subsec. (g), added new Subsec. (i) re installation of an ignition interlock device and redesignated existing Subsecs. (i) to (k) as new Subsecs. (j) to (l), respectively, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-257 made a technical change in Subsec. (g), effective June 14, 2004; P.A. 05-218 amended Subsec. (i) by inserting “passenger” re motor vehicle and removing provision re no enrollment in treatment program or obtained waiver in Subdiv. (1), deleting former Subdiv. (2) re condition rendering person incapable of safely operating a motor vehicle, redesignating existing Subdivs. (3) to (6) as new Subdivs. (2) to (5) and, in new Subdiv. (4), inserting “for any other reason”; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 05-3 amended Subsec. (i)(1) by deleting the word “passenger” added by P.A. 05-218; P.A. 06-147 amended Subsec. (a) to delete requirement that the motor vehicle be operated on public highway of state or on road of specified district organized under the provisions of chapter 105 or on private road on which a speed limit has been established pursuant to Sec. 14-218a or in parking area for ten or more cars or on school property, and defined “motor vehicle” to include snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles; P.A. 09-187 amended Subsec. (a) to establish elevated blood alcohol content of .04 for person operating commercial motor vehicle, amended Subsec. (b)(5) to decrease minimum interval between initial test and additional test from 30 minutes to 10 minutes, amended Subsec. (b)(6) to lower exception to rebuttable presumption from .12 or less to .10 or less, and amended Subsec. (i) to insert “Except as provided in sections 53a-56b and 53a-60d” in Subdiv. (1) and to add Subdiv. (6) requiring commissioner to indicate restrictions re ignition interlock device in electronic record of person's operator's license or driving history and to make such record accessible by law enforcement officers; P.A. 10-110 amended Subsec. (i) to establish $100 fee prior to installation of device in Subdiv. (6) and add Subdiv. (7) re establishment of account for administration of subsection, effective July 1, 2010, and amended Subsec. (g)(2) to make provisions of Subpara. (C)(i) applicable to person under age 21 at time of offense and prohibit any such person for 2-year period following completion of suspension period from operating motor vehicle unless vehicle is equipped with ignition interlock device and to make provisions of Subpara. (C)(ii) applicable to person age 21 or older at time of offense and delete applicability to person convicted of violation of Subsec. (a)(1) or (2), and further amended Subsec. (i) to insert “(C)(i) or” in Subdivs. (1) and (5) and replace requirement that person has served not less than 1 year of suspension with requirement that person has served suspension required under subparagraph (C)(i) or (C)(ii) in Subdiv. (1)(A), effective October 1, 2010; P.A. 11-48 amended Subsec. (g) by revising Subdiv. (1)(C) to reduce suspension period from 1 year to 45 days, add condition for license restoration that person install ignition interlock device on each motor vehicle owned or operated by such person and prohibit person for 1-year period following such restoration from operating a motor vehicle unless it is equipped with such a device, by revising Subdiv. (2)(C)(i) to reduce suspension period from 3 years to 45 days, add condition for license restoration that person install ignition interlock device on each motor vehicle owned or operated by such person, increase from 2 years to 3 years the period such person is prohibited from operating a motor vehicle unless it is equipped with such a device and provide that such period runs from “such restoration” rather than “completion of such period of suspension” and by revising Subdiv. (2)(C)(ii) to reduce suspension period from 1 year to 45 days, add condition for license restoration that such person install ignition interlock device on each motor vehicle owned or operated by such person, increase from 2 years to 3 years the period such person is prohibited from operating a motor vehicle unless it is equipped with such a device and provide that such period runs from “such restoration” rather than “completion of such period of suspension”, and amended Subsec. (i) by revising Subdiv. (1) to include person whose license has been suspended in accordance with Subsec. (g)(1)(C), replace “said subparagraph (C)(i) or (C)(ii)” with “said subparagraph” and include person who has served required suspension “notwithstanding that such person has not completed serving any suspension required under subsection (i) of section 14-227b”, by revising Subdiv. (2) to prohibit court from waiving fees or costs associated with installation and maintenance of ignition interlock device, by revising Subdiv. (3) to require regulations to specify acts that constitute noncompliance re installation and use of device, conditions that will result in extension of restriction and duration of any such extension and add provision re notice by firm when person commits violation with respect to installation, maintenance or use of device, by revising Subdiv. (5) to make Subsec. applicable to person whose license has been suspended in accordance with Subsec. (g)(1)(C) and to suspension on or after “January 1, 2012” rather than “September 1, 2003”, by revising Subdiv. (6) to add provision that nothing in Subsec. shall be construed to require commissioner to verify that each motor vehicle owned by such person has been equipped with such device, and by adding Subdiv. (8) re authority of commissioner to reduce term of suspension for person whose license is under suspension on January 1, 2012, and restrict person to operation of motor vehicle with ignition interlock device for remainder of prescribed period of suspension, Subdiv. (9) re agency responsible for supervision of persons required to install ignition interlock device and Subdiv. (10) re extension of periods of restricted operation, effective January 1, 2012; P.A. 11-51 made identical changes as P.A. 11-48, effective January 1, 2012; pursuant to P.A. 11-51, “Commissioner of Public Safety” and “Department of Public Safety” were changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection” and “Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection”, respectively, in Subsecs. (b) and (d), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 12-178 amended Subsec. (g)(2)(B) and (3)(B) to designate provision re community service as clause (i) and add clause (ii) re assessment of degree of alcohol or drug abuse and clause (iii) re undergoing a treatment program if ordered, amended Subsec. (g)(2)(C)(i) and (ii) to limit operation during first year of 3-year period of ignition interlock device use to transportation to or from work or school, an alcohol or drug abuse treatment program or an ignition interlock device services center, amended Subsec. (g)(3)(C) to provide that if revocation is reversed or reduced under Sec. 14-111(i), person shall be prohibited from operating motor vehicle unless it is equipped with ignition interlock device, amended Subsec. (i)(1)(B) to require person to verify to commissioner that device has been installed and to add provision re first year limitation on operation after installation of device, amended Subsec. (i)(6) to reference such limitation on operation and delete provision re nothing in Subsec. to be construed to require commissioner to verify that each motor vehicle owned by person has been equipped with device, amended Subsec. (i)(10) to reference Sec. 14-111(i), rather than Sec. 14-111(k), and amended Subsec. (l) to substitute $75 for $25 re victim impact panel program participation fee and substitute “Branch” for “Department”, effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 13-271 amended Subsec. (g)(2)(C)(i) and (ii) and Subsec. (i)(1) to allow operation of motor vehicle during first year after installation of ignition interlock device for transportation to or from appointment with probation officer and amended Subsec. (i)(6) to add reference re transportation to or from appointment with probation officer, effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 14-228 amended Subsec. (g)(2) to delete former Subpara. (C)(i) re person under 21 years of age at time of offense, Subpara. (C)(ii) designator and reference to person 21 years of age or older in former Subpara. (C)(ii), amended Subsec. (h) to delete former Subdiv. (2) re person found guilty under Subsec. (a) who is under 18 years of age and redesignate existing Subdivs. (3) and (4) as Subdivs. (2) and (3), and made conforming and technical changes in Subsecs. (g) to (i), effective July 1, 2015; P.A. 16-126 amended Subsec. (g) by adding references to Secs. 14-227m and 14-227n(a)(1) and (2); June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-1 amended Subsec. (a) to define “advanced roadside impaired driving enforcement”, “drug influence evaluation”, “drug recognition expert” and “nontestimonial portion of a drug influence evaluation”, amended Subsec. (b) to insert “including a test” and Subpara. indicators in Subdiv. (5) and make technical changes, amended Subsec. (c) to insert reference to Subdiv. (1), amended Subsec. (d) to make technical changes, amended Subsec. (e) to designate existing provisions as Subdiv. (1), add references to nontestimonial portion of a drug influence evaluation and add Subdiv. (2) re judicial notice and amended Subsec. (j) to add provision re pretrial impaired driving intervention program, effective April 1, 2022.

Structure Connecticut General Statutes