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50 Founders Plaza
East Hartford, CT 06108
50 Founders Plaza
East Hartford, CT 06108
Roadway safety is an ongoing concern in Connecticut. According to the Connecticut Department of Transportation, there were nearly 95,000 car accidents in the state in 2024, and 328 people were killed in these accidents. Law enforcement officials and legislators are looking to reduce these numbers, and to do so, several new laws have been proposed that will address issues such as drunk driving, distracted driving, and other unsafe behaviors.
Because of the ways law enforcement is cracking down on drivers who are accused of violating traffic laws, people who have been charged with serious violations will need to understand their options for defense. Representation from an experienced Connecticut criminal defense attorney can be essential in these situations, ensuring that steps can be taken to minimize fines or other penalties.
In the current legislative session, several changes to the law are being considered. These include:
Increased Penalties for Drunk Driving: A bill known as "Benny’s Law," which is named after a police officer who was killed in 2021 after being struck by a drunk driver, would add some increased penalties in certain cases involving DUI charges. In cases where a person dies as a result of someone’s drunk driving, the opportunity to be released on bail would be revoked. People charged with DUI for the second time would face enhanced penalties, and in cases where a repeat offense results in someone’s death, an offender may be charged with manslaughter.
Increased Penalties for Passing School Buses: To address the risks of injury to children when people illegally pass school buses while their red lights are flashing, a new law proposes adding additional penalties for people who commit this offense. If this bill is passed, a person who commits this offense for the second time will have their driver’s license suspended for six months. A third offense will result in a one-year license suspension.
Increased Penalties for Texting While Driving: Because of the dangers of distracted driving, a bill has been proposed that would lead to more serious penalties for people who use mobile devices while driving. Under this law, if a person injures someone else because they were texting and driving, they may face higher fines, and their driver’s license may be suspended for six months.
Reduced BAC Limits: The Connecticut Department of Transportation has proposed a law that would decrease the amount of alcohol a person would have to have in their system to be considered intoxicated. As is true in most of the rest of the United States, the legal limit for blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in Connecticut is currently .08 percent. Under this new law, the legal limit for BAC would be reduced to .05 percent.
Increased Penalties for Injuring Highway Workers or Emergency Workers: Because of the ongoing risks faced by road construction workers, as well as the injuries that can occur if drivers do not move over to avoid emergency vehicles, the Connecticut DOT has proposed a law that would increase the penalties for people who injure construction workers or emergency workers in accidents. Under this law, the fine for injuring an emergency worker or road construction worker would be increased from $5,000 to $10,000, and the fine for a violation that results in the death of an emergency worker or construction worker would be raised from $10,000 to $20,000.
While these laws have not yet been passed, they show that law enforcement is paying increased attention to drivers who behave recklessly or dangerously. People who are arrested for intoxicated driving or charged with other traffic violations will need to understand what steps they can take to defend against these charges and minimize their potential penalties. At Woolf & Ross Law Firm, LLC, our Connecticut motor vehicle offenses attorneys can provide representation in these cases, working to defend clients against harsh consequences that could affect their driver’s licenses. To learn more about how we can assist with these matters, contact us at 860-290-8690 and set up a free consultation.
50 Founders Plaza
