(a) Any person who operates a motor vehicle in this state shall be deemed to have given such person’s consent to: (1) A chemical test of such person’s blood, breath or urine; and (2) a nontestimonial portion of a drug influence evaluation conducted by a drug recognition expert. If such person is a minor, such person’s parent or parents or guardian shall also be deemed to have given their consent for such test or evaluation. As used in this section, “motor vehicle” includes a snowmobile and all-terrain vehicle, as such terms are defined in § 14-379.

Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 14-227b

  • Affirmed: In the practice of the appellate courts, the decree or order is declared valid and will stand as rendered in the lower court.
  • another: may extend and be applied to communities, companies, corporations, public or private, limited liability companies, societies and associations. See Connecticut General Statutes 1-1
  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Motor vehicle: includes all vehicles used on the public highways. See Connecticut General Statutes 14-212
  • Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
  • Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.

(b) (1) A police officer who has placed a person under arrest for a violation of § 14-227a, 14-227m or subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of § 14-227n may request that such person submit to a blood, breath or urine test at the option of the police officer, a drug influence evaluation conducted by a drug recognition expert, or both, after such person has been (A) apprised of such person’s constitutional rights; (B) afforded a reasonable opportunity to telephone an attorney prior to the performance of such test or evaluation; (C) informed that evidence of any refusal to submit to such test or evaluation shall be admissible in accordance with subsection (e) of § 14-227a and may be used against such person in any criminal prosecution, except that refusal to submit to the testimonial portions of a drug influence evaluation shall not be considered evidence of refusal of such evaluation for purposes of any criminal prosecution; and (D) informed that such person’s license or operating privilege may be suspended in accordance with the provisions of this section if (i) such person refuses to submit to such test or the nontestimonial portion of a drug influence evaluation, (ii) such person submits to such test and the results of such test indicate that such person has an elevated blood alcohol content, or (iii) the officer concludes, through investigation, that such person was operating a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, or both.

(2) If the person refuses to submit to any test or drug influence evaluation, the test or evaluation shall not be given, except if the person refuses or is unable to submit to a blood test, the police officer shall designate another test to be taken. If a person submits to a breath test and the police officer, for reasonable cause, requests an additional chemical test of a different type to detect the presence of a drug or drugs other than or in addition to alcohol, the officer may administer such test, except that if such person refuses or is unable to submit to a blood test, the officer shall designate a urine test to be taken. The police officer shall make a notation upon the records of the law enforcement unit, as defined in § 7-294a, that such officer informed the person that such person’s license or operating privilege may be suspended if (A) such person refused to submit to such test or nontestimonial portion of a drug influence evaluation; (B) such person submitted to such test and the results of such test indicated that such person had an elevated blood alcohol content; or (C) the officer concludes, through investigation, that such person was operating a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, or both.

(c) If the person arrested refuses to submit to such test or nontestimonial portion of a drug influence evaluation or submits to such test, commenced within two hours of the time of operation, and the results of such test indicate that such person has an elevated blood alcohol content, the police officer, acting on behalf of the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, shall immediately revoke and take possession of the motor vehicle operator’s license or, if such person is not licensed or is a nonresident, suspend the operating privilege of such person, for a twenty-four-hour period. The police officer shall prepare a report of the incident and shall mail or otherwise transmit in accordance with this subsection the report and a copy of the results of any chemical test to the Department of Motor Vehicles within three business days. The report shall contain such information as prescribed by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles and shall be subscribed and sworn to under penalty of false statement as provided in § 53a-157b by the arresting officer. If the person arrested refused to submit to such test or evaluation, the report shall be endorsed by a third person who witnessed such refusal. The report shall set forth the grounds for the officer’s belief that there was probable cause to arrest such person for a violation of § 14-227a or 14-227m or subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of § 14-227n and shall state that such person had refused to submit to such test or evaluation when requested by such police officer to do so or that such person submitted to such test, commenced within two hours of the time of operation, and the results of such test indicated that such person had an elevated blood alcohol content. A drug influence evaluation need not be commenced within two hours of the time of operation. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may accept a police report under this subsection that is prepared and transmitted as an electronic record, including electronic signature or signatures, subject to such security procedures as the commissioner may specify and in accordance with the provisions of sections 1-266 to 1-286, inclusive. In any hearing conducted pursuant to the provisions of subsection (g) of this section, it shall not be a ground for objection to the admissibility of a police report that it is an electronic record prepared by electronic means.

(d) If a police officer who has placed a person under arrest for a violation of § 14-227a or 14-227m or subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of § 14-227n does not request that such person submit to a blood, breath or urine test under subsection (b) of this section, or obtains results from a test administered under subsection (b) of this section that indicate that the person does not have an elevated blood alcohol content, such officer shall:

(1) Advise such person that such person’s license or operating privilege may be suspended in accordance with the provisions of this section if such police officer concludes, through investigation, that such person was operating a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, or both; and

(2) Submit a report to the commissioner in accordance with the procedure set forth in subsection (c) of this section and, if such report contains the results of a blood, breath or urine test that does not show an elevated blood alcohol content, such report shall conform to the requirements in subsection (c) of this section for reports that contain results showing an elevated blood alcohol content. In any report submitted under this subdivision, the officer shall document (A) the basis for the officer’s belief that there was probable cause to arrest such person for a violation of § 14-227a or 14-227m or subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of § 14-227n, and (B) whether the officer concluded, through investigation, that the person was operating a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, or both. With such report, the officer may submit other supporting documentation indicating the person’s intoxication by liquor or any drug, or both. If the officer concludes, through investigation, that the person was operating a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, or both, the officer shall immediately revoke and take possession of the motor vehicle operator’s license or, if such person is not licensed or is a nonresident, suspend the operating privilege of such person for a twenty-four-hour period.

(e) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, upon receipt of a report submitted under subsection (c) or (d) of this section, the commissioner may suspend any operator’s license or operating privilege of such person effective as of a date certain, which date certain shall be not later than thirty days from the later of the date such person received (A) notice of such person’s arrest by the police officer, or (B) the results of a blood or urine test or a drug influence evaluation. Any person whose operator’s license or operating privilege has been suspended in accordance with this subdivision shall automatically be entitled to a hearing before the commissioner to be held in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 and prior to the effective date of the suspension. The commissioner shall send a suspension notice to such person informing such person that such person’s operator’s license or operating privilege is suspended as of a date certain and that such person is entitled to a hearing prior to the effective date of the suspension and may schedule such hearing by contacting the Department of Motor Vehicles not later than seven days after the date of mailing of such suspension notice.

(2) Upon receipt of a report that (A) the person’s arrest involved an accident resulting in a fatality, or (B) the person has previously had such person’s operator’s license or operating privilege suspended under the provisions of § 14-227a, 14-227m or 14-227n during the ten-year period preceding the present arrest, the commissioner may suspend any operator’s license or operating privilege of such person effective as of the date specified in a notice of such suspension to such person. A person whose operator’s license or operating privilege has been suspended in accordance with this subdivision shall automatically be entitled to a hearing before the commissioner, to be held in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54. The commissioner shall send a suspension notice to such person informing such person that such person’s operator’s license or operating privilege is suspended as of the date specified in such suspension notice, and that such person is entitled to a hearing and may schedule such hearing by contacting the Department of Motor Vehicles not later than seven days after the date of mailing of such suspension notice. Any suspension issued under this subdivision shall remain in effect until such suspension is affirmed under subsection (f) of this section or such operator’s license or operating privilege is reinstated in accordance with subsection (h) of this section.

(f) If such person does not contact the department to schedule a hearing, the commissioner shall affirm the suspension contained in the suspension notice for the appropriate period specified in subsection (i) of this section.

(g) (1) If such person contacts the department to schedule a hearing, the department shall assign a date, time and place for the hearing, which date shall be prior to the effective date of the suspension, except that, with respect to a person whose operator’s license or operating privilege is suspended in accordance with subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of this section, such hearing shall be scheduled not later than thirty days after such person contacts the department. At the request of such person, the hearing officer or the department and upon a showing of good cause, the commissioner may grant one or more continuances.

(2) A hearing based on a report submitted under subsection (c) of this section shall be limited to a determination of the following issues: (A) Did the police officer have probable cause to arrest the person for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, or both; (B) was such person placed under arrest; (C) did such person (i) refuse to submit to such test or nontestimonial portion of a drug influence evaluation, or (ii) submit to such test, commenced within two hours of the time of operation, and the results of such test indicated that such person had an elevated blood alcohol content; and (D) was such person operating the motor vehicle.

(3) A hearing based on a report submitted under subsection (d) of this section shall be limited to a determination of the following issues: (A) Did the police officer have probable cause to arrest the person for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, or both; (B) was such person placed under arrest; (C) was such person operating a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, or both; and (D) was such person operating the motor vehicle.

(4) In a hearing under this subsection, the results of the test, if administered, shall be sufficient to indicate the ratio of alcohol in the blood of such person at the time of operation, provided such test was commenced within two hours of the time of operation. The fees of any witness summoned to appear at a hearing under this subsection shall be the same as provided by the general statutes for witnesses in criminal cases. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of § 52-143, any subpoena summoning a police officer as a witness shall be served not less than seventy-two hours prior to the designated time of the hearing.

(5) In a hearing based on a report submitted under subsection (d) of this section, evidence of operation under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, or both shall be admissible. Such evidence may include, but need not be limited to, (A) the police officer’s observations of intoxication, as documented in a report submitted to the commissioner under subsection (d) of this section; (B) the results of any chemical test administered under this section or a toxicology report certified by the Division of Scientific Services within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection; (C) hospital or medical records obtained in accordance with subsection (j) of this section or by the consent of the operator; (D) the results of any tests conducted by, or the report of, an officer trained in advanced roadside impaired driving enforcement; or (E) reports of drug recognition experts.

(h) If, after a hearing under subdivision (2) of subsection (g) of this section, the commissioner finds in the negative on any one of the issues specified in subparagraph (A), (B), (C) or (D) of said subdivision, the commissioner shall reinstate such license or operating privilege. If, after a hearing under subdivision (3) of subsection (g) of this section, the commissioner finds in the negative on any one of the issues specified in subparagraph (A), (B), (C) or (D) of said subdivision, the commissioner shall reinstate such license or operating privilege. If, after such hearing under subdivision (2) or (3) of subsection (g) of this section, the commissioner does not find on any one of said issues in the negative or if such person fails to appear at such hearing, the commissioner shall affirm the suspension contained in the suspension notice for the appropriate period specified in subsection (i) of this section. The commissioner shall render a decision at the conclusion of such hearing and send a notice of the decision by bulk certified mail or by personal delivery, as defined in § 4-166, to such person. The notice of such decision sent by bulk certified mail or by personal delivery to the address of such person as shown by the records of the commissioner shall be sufficient notice to such person that such person’s operator’s license or operating privilege is reinstated or suspended, as the case may be. A notice of the decision shall only be transmitted by personal delivery if the operator has consented, in writing, to such personal delivery.

(i) (1) The commissioner shall suspend the operator’s license or operating privilege of a person who did not contact the department to schedule a hearing, who failed to appear at a hearing, or against whom a decision was issued, after a hearing, pursuant to subsection (h) of this section, as of the effective date contained in the suspension notice, for a period of forty-five days. As a condition for the restoration of such operator’s license or operating privilege, such person shall be required to install an ignition interlock device on each motor vehicle owned or operated by such person and, upon such restoration, be prohibited from operating a motor vehicle unless such motor vehicle is equipped with a functioning, approved ignition interlock device, as defined in § 14-227j, for the longer of either (A) the period prescribed in subdivision (2) of this subsection for the present arrest and suspension, or (B) the period prescribed in subdivision (1), (2) or (3) of subsection (g) of § 14-227a or subdivision (1), (2) or (3) of subsection (c) of § 14-227m or subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (c) of § 14-227n for the present arrest and conviction, if any.

(2) (A) A person twenty-one years of age or older at the time of the arrest who submitted to a test and the results of such test indicated that such person had an elevated blood alcohol content, or was found to have been operating a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, or both based on a report filed pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, shall install and maintain an ignition interlock device for the following periods: (i) For a first suspension under this section, six months; (ii) for a second suspension under this section, one year; and (iii) for a third or subsequent suspension under this section, two years; (B) a person under twenty-one years of age at the time of the arrest who submitted to a test and the results of such test indicated that such person had an elevated blood alcohol content, or was found to have been operating a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, or both based on a report filed pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, shall install and maintain an ignition interlock device for the following periods: (i) For a first suspension under this section, one year; (ii) for a second suspension under this section, two years; and (iii) for a third or subsequent suspension under this section, three years; and (C) a person, regardless of age, who refused to submit to a test or nontestimonial portion of a drug influence evaluation shall install and maintain an ignition interlock device for the following periods: (i) For a first suspension under this section, one year; (ii) for a second suspension under this section, two years; and (iii) for a third or subsequent suspension, under this section, three years.

(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection, a person whose motor vehicle operator’s license or operating privilege has been permanently revoked upon a third offense pursuant to subsection (g) of § 14-227a or subsection (c) of § 14-227m shall be subject to the penalties prescribed in subdivision (2) of subsection (i) of § 14-111.

(j) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (b) to (i), inclusive, of this section, any police officer who obtains the results of a test of a blood sample taken from or a urine sample provided by an operator of a motor vehicle who was involved in an accident and suffered or allegedly suffered physical injury in such accident, or who was otherwise deemed by a police officer to require treatment or observation at a hospital, shall notify the commissioner and submit to the commissioner a written report if such results indicate that such person had an elevated blood alcohol content, or any quantity of an intoxicating liquor or any drug, or both, in such person’s blood, and if such person was arrested for violation of § 14-227a or 14-227m or subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of § 14-227n. The report shall be made on a form approved by the commissioner containing such information as the commissioner prescribes, and shall be subscribed and sworn to under penalty of false statement, as provided in § 53a-157b, by the police officer. The commissioner may, after notice and an opportunity for hearing, which shall be conducted by a hearing officer on behalf of the commissioner in accordance with chapter 54, suspend the motor vehicle operator’s license or operating privilege of such person for the appropriate period of time specified in subsection (i) of this section and require such person to install and maintain an ignition interlock device for the appropriate period of time prescribed in subsection (i) of this section. Each hearing conducted under this subsection shall be limited to a determination of the following issues: (1) Whether the police officer had probable cause to arrest the person for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drug, or both; (2) whether such person was placed under arrest; (3) whether such person was operating the motor vehicle; (4) whether (A) the results of the analysis of the blood or urine of such person indicate that such person had an elevated blood alcohol content, or (B) the person was operating a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, or both; and (5) in the event that a blood sample was taken, whether the blood sample was obtained in accordance with conditions for admissibility and competence as evidence as set forth in subsection (k) of § 14-227a. If, after such hearing, the commissioner finds on any one of the said issues in the negative, the commissioner shall not impose a suspension. The fees of any witness summoned to appear at the hearing shall be the same as provided by the general statutes for witnesses in criminal cases, as provided in § 52-260.

(k) The provisions of this section shall apply with the same effect to the refusal by any person to submit to an additional chemical test as provided in subparagraph (E) of subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of § 14-227a.

(l) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any person whose physical condition is such that, according to competent medical advice, such test would be inadvisable.

(m) The state shall pay the reasonable charges of any physician who, at the request of a law enforcement unit, as defined in § 7-294a, takes a blood sample for purposes of a test under the provisions of this section.

(n) For the purposes of this section, “elevated blood alcohol content” means (1) a ratio of alcohol in the blood of such person that is eight-hundredths of one per cent or more of alcohol, by weight, (2) if such person is operating a commercial motor vehicle, a ratio of alcohol in the blood of such person that is four-hundredths of one per cent or more of alcohol, by weight, or (3) if such person is less than twenty-one years of age, a ratio of alcohol in the blood of such person that is two-hundredths of one per cent or more of alcohol, by weight.

(o) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this section.