Connecticut DUI Triggers Massachusetts Suspension

Massachusetts residents who are arrested for DUI or OUI in another state may face license suspension consequences both in the state where the DUI occurred and in Massachusetts. This is due to the Interstate Driver’s License Compact, which requires states to notify the driver’s home state of any DUI conviction or similar offense. Additionally, the National Driver Register centralizes DUI-related suspensions and revocations, further ensuring that out-of-state offenses affect Massachusetts driving records.

Each state handles DUI offenses differently, including variations in penalties, ignition interlock requirements, and hardship licensing. Massachusetts, for example, handles first-offense OUIs under G.L. c. 90 § 24D, while some states mandate ignition interlock devices even for first-time offenders. States also differ in how they treat breathalyzer refusals and license reinstatement procedures.

Connecticut DUI Convictions and Massachusetts License Suspensions

In Connecticut, DUI offenders may qualify for a pretrial alcohol education program under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54–56g. Successfully completing this program can result in dismissal of the criminal DUI charge, unlike Massachusetts’ 24D program, which requires an admission of sufficient facts to support a conviction. However, in Scheffler v. Board of Appeal on Motor Vehicle Liability Policies and Bonds, the Massachusetts Appeals Court ruled that a Connecticut DUI resolved through this program is still considered equivalent to a Massachusetts DUI conviction for license suspension, revocation, and hardship licensing purposes. As a result, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) will add the Connecticut DUI to the driver’s Massachusetts record, impacting license status and ignition interlock device (IID) requirements.

Connecticut Ignition Interlock and Suspension Requirements

Massachusetts residents with multiple DUI convictions in Connecticut may be subject to Connecticut’s IID laws. Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-227a(g), individuals convicted of two DUIs within ten years must serve a one-year suspension and install an IID in their vehicle for 24 months upon license restoration. If a Massachusetts resident must install an IID under Connecticut law, they must ensure the device is provided by an approved vendor that transmits reports to Connecticut. This process requires obtaining a certified Massachusetts driving history and submitting it to the Connecticut DMV.

Alternatively, a Massachusetts resident may opt to serve a three-year suspension instead of installing the IID in Connecticut. However, this does not satisfy Massachusetts’ IID requirement. Under Massachusetts law, any second or subsequent offender reinstating their license after January 1, 2006, must install an IID as a condition of a hardship license and for two years after full license reinstatement.

Navigating DUI Consequences Across State Lines

Massachusetts residents facing DUI charges in Connecticut should carefully consider their options. By agreeing to the IID requirement, a driver may reduce a three-year second-offense Connecticut DUI suspension to one year, provided the second offense occurred in Connecticut and the Connecticut DMV grants permission for IID-restricted driving. However, this does not exempt the driver from Massachusetts’ own IID rules.

For those facing out-of-state DUI charges, it is crucial to understand how the offense will impact both states’ license regulations. Consulting a legal professional with experience in both Massachusetts and Connecticut DUI laws can help drivers navigate these complex consequences and make informed decisions about their driving privileges.