Victim Impact Panels for Driving Under the Influence Charges
by
Joseph C. Maya on Aug. 11, 2017
Criminal DUI-DWI Criminal Misdemeanor
Summary: A blog post about how victim impact panels are changing the way people charged with DUIs see drinking and driving.
For a free consultation with an experienced criminal defense attorney, please call the offices of Maya Murphy, P.C. today at (203) 221-3100 or Joseph C. Maya, Esq. at JMaya@Mayalaw.com.
Under Section 14-227a of the Connecticut General Statutes, 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 under the influence if he or she 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.
If an operator is convicted of the offense of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, one of the penalties that Connecticut has adopted is to require that the offending driver attend a “victim impact panel” approved by the State of Connecticut.
The victim impact panel program provides a non-confrontational forum for victims of alcohol-related or drug-related offenses and offenders to share experiences regarding the impact of alcohol or drug-related incidents in their lives. These panel programs are 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. Typically, these panels are provided and sponsored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). By law, the cost to the offending motorist must be limited to no more than seventy-five dollars ($75.00) and must be paid in addition to any other fines and restitution ordered by the Court.
While this is not the only penalty that a motorist charged with operating under the influence can expect to receive, attendance at a victim impact panel is typically required to restore a suspended license and satisfy conditions of probation or the conditions of the Alcohol Education Program.
If you have been arrested and charged with a driving under the influence related offense, contact the experienced criminal law attorneys today at 203-221-3100, or by email at JMaya@mayalaw.com. We have the experience and knowledge you need at this critical juncture. We serve clients throughout Connecticut and all of Fairfield County, from Greenwich and Stamford to Westport and Bridgeport.
Source: C.G.S. § 14-227a
