Data shows intoxicated drivers arrested in Norwalk once every two days

Sept. 30--NORWALK -- Data released by the Norwalk Police Department shows that officers arrest intoxicated drivers on average once every two days.

Norwalk's crackdown on DUI offenses would seem to mirror a statewide trend, as a recent survey ranks Connecticut the seventh strictest state in the nation in DUI penalties. The personal finance site WalletHub says Connecticut drivers should also be mindful of the state's stiff legal repercussions -- not to mention the inherent safety issues in getting behind the wheel of a car while intoxicated.

"We use a variety of techniques including DUI checkpoints, roving patrols targeting impaired drivers as well as routine enforcement where impaired drivers are observed and identified," said Norwalk Police Chief Thomas Kulhawik. "DUI enforcement is critical, as the danger these drivers pose to the community is significant."

The WalletHub survey cited Arizona as the strictest state in DUI penalties, with long mandatory jail terms, to the most lenient -- South Dakota, with no mandatory jail time or license suspension.

Tougher penalties for those caught driving under the influence have also had an impact, especially in reducing the number of repeat violators. For example, almost half the states now require all convicted DUI offenders to install an ignition interlock device in any vehicles they will be driving. These devices analyze the driver's breath and won't permit the car to start if alcohol is detected. The federal government estimates that these devices have reduced re-arrest rates of DUI offenders by 67 percent, according to WalletHub.

"A combination of education and enforcement is necessary to reduce the imcidents of impaired driving, thereby saving drivers and their passengers from serious injury or worse," Kulhawik said.

In Connecticut, a blood alcohol level (BAC) of more than .08 is considered too impaired to drive.

For a first DUI conviction in Connecticut, a sentence of two days in jail may be imposed, for a second conviction, the sentence jumps to 120 days, and a third offense is considered to be an automatic felony, which may carry heavy sentences. A old DUI conviction of less than 10 years is factored into these penalties.

Lt. Terrence Blake, a Norwalk police spokesman, released the city's DUI arrest numbers for the past several years. Norwalk police conduct several DUI checkpoints throughout the year and the numbers since 2013 have averaged an arrest of an intoxicated driver in Norwalk approximately every two days.

In 2013, Norwalk police made 182 arrests: 2014 had 184; in 2015, 175 people were charged with DUI; and thus far into 2016, 143 drivers have been cited for driving under the influence..

According to the Connecticut Judicial Branch, there were 10,438 DUI arrests statewide in 2015. Of those, 6,204 cases were dismissed, 3,327 cases ended in guilty pleas or findings, three were found not guilty, 761 cases were nolled, and 142 people were subject to suspension of their driver's licenses.

The numbers were similar in 2014. There were 10,308 drivers charged statewide that year with 6,341 cases dismissed, 3,249 with guilty findings or pleas, five were found not guilty, 632 cases were nolled and 81 drivers were subject to license suspension.

WalletHub examined a number of key metrics to identify the strictest and most lenient states for DUI offenses. Those criteria included: minimum jail time for first and subsequent offenses, when a DUI is considered a felony, minimum fines for each offense, additional penalties for high BAC, when an ignition interlock is mandatory, length of license suspension, mandatory treatment, and average insurance increase.

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