Connecticut Criminal Defense Law Podcast

S5:E1 Season Intro: What are the Levels of Proof in a Criminal Case?

This season of the Ruane Attorneys podcast will focus on the Connecticut criminal justice system. We start out with some basic information. In this episode, Certified Criminal Trial Specialist and founding partner of Ruane Attorneys, Attorney Jim Ruane talks about the levels of proof involved in criminal cases and gives you a framework for understanding the criminal process.
Jim explains reasonable and articulable suspicion, probable cause, reasonable doubt, proof beyond a reasonable doubt, and more, to help you understand this system and what you are up against if you are charged with a crime in Connecticut.
For more information, visit our website.

S4:E9 Special Bonus: Your Alcohol Education Program Questions Answered!

In this special bonus episode, Attorney Teresa DiNardi answered the most common questions about the Connecticut Alcohol Education Program.
The Connecticut Alcohol Education Program (AEP) is an alternative available for those charged with a first time Connecticut DUI. If you are eligible for the program, you can take alcohol education classes in Connecticut, and the court will dismiss the DUI against you. There are pros and cons to using the Alcohol Education Program, and it is best to consult a Connecticut DUI lawyer before deciding to or not to use the program.
You can learn more about the AEP and Connecticut DUI on the Ruane Attorneys website. To keep in touch with Teresa, follow her on Facebook.

S4:E5 The Ignition Interlock Program

In this episode of Season Four, we learn all about the IID program in Connecticut.
Connecticut DUI lawyer Teresa DiNardi explains that many people convicted of a Connecticut DUI have to have an ignition interlock device (IID) installed on their vehicles in order to properly drive. After a driver's license suspension, the IID is required for a period of time, depending on your situation. Failure to drive a vehicle with an IID can result in additional penalties and license suspensions.
We have more information about the IID on our website. To keep in touch with Teresa, follow her on Facebook.

S4:E6 The Penalties for DUI In Connecticut

In this episode, Teresa DiNardi, partner at Ruane Attorneys and known as LadyDUI breaks down the penalties for DUI in the state of Connecticut so people know exactly what they are facing.
Facing a Connecticut DUI can be an overwhelming experience. Whether you were stopped on I-95, the Merritt Parkway, or a backroad, the DUI charge is the same.
In this episode, you can learn more about potential penalties, which are based on how many (if any) previous DUIs you have. Common penalties include fines, jail time, probation, participation in the AEP, and more.
For more Connecticut DUI information, check out the Ruane Attorneys website.

S4:E7 The Impact of a CDL on a DUI Case and How a DUI Can Impact Your Career

In this episode, Connecticut DUI lawyer Teresa DiNardi talks about how having a commercial driver's license (CDL) in Connecticut, even if you are not driving a commercial vehicle at the time of your stop, can dramatically make things tougher for you.
If you face a Connecticut DUI and you hold a CDL, the DUI could impact not only your freedom and your personal life, but also your career. If you are a truck driver, a bus driver, or rely on your CDL in some way for your livelihood, a Connecticut DUI can cause serious problems. This is because your CDL could be taken away from you. Not only will you be unable to drive, you will also be unable to work. This is the case whether you are on duty when stopped for a DUI or not.
To learn more about CDLs and DUIs, check out our website. You can also follow Teresa on Facebook to learn more about Connecticut law.

S4:E8 The Alcohol Education Program in Connecticut

In this very special episode, Teresa discusses a common alternative to a DUI trial or plea, the Connecticut Alcohol Education Program, and how it can help you with your situation.
Connecticut's Alcohol Education Program is intended to help those who are first time DUI offenders. The program seeks to rehabilitate those who have displayed drug or alcohol issues by requiring them to take alcohol education classes. If the program is successfully completed, the court system will dismiss the DUI charges and the defendant won't have to worry about conviction or having a DUI on their record.
You can learn more about the Alcohol Education Program in this episode. For further information, check out our website.

S4:E3 How Court and DMV is different in a DUI Case in Connecticut

Attorney Teresa DiNardi explains how you wind up with two different cases when arrested for a Connecticut DUI and what that means for you and your license.
Being charged with a Connecticut DUI will trigger two processes against you - the court process and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) process. The court process will determine if you were driving under the influence and will result in criminal penalties such as fines, a license suspension, jail time, a criminal conviction, and more. The DMV process will determine if the DMV should suspend your license as a result of the acts that you are accused of.
These cases are independent of one another, but it is a good idea to find a Connecticut DUI lawyer who can fight for you in both. To learn more, visit our website and follow Teresa on Facebook.

S4:E4 Work Permits and School Permits

In this episode Attorney DiNardi, better known as Lady DUI, talks about Connecticut driving. More specifically, she talks about how you can get a work permit if you license is suspended and how to navigate the ignition interlock program with the DMV.
Oftentimes after receiving a Connecticut DUI, your driver's license will be suspended. You may receive a suspension from the court, the Department of Motor Vehicles, or both. If your license is suspended, you are not allowed to drive a vehicle under any circumstances UNLESS you apply for and are granted a work or education permit. These permits allow you to drive to and from work or school ONLY so that you can keep working or continue your education.
Teresa explains these permits in greater detail in this episode. For more information, check out the Ruane Attorneys website.

S4:E1 Intro to LadyDUI, Teresa DiNardi

In Season Four, we explain the DUI process in Connecticut, with Lady DUI, Attorney Teresa DiNardi.
Attorney DiNardi is a Connecticut DUI defense lawyer and a partner at Ruane Attorneys. In this season, you can expect episodes that explain the standardized field sobriety tests, ignition interlock device, common DUI penalties, how to protect yourself, and much more. Make sure to tune into this season for more Connecticut DUI information. You can also check out our website to learn more!

S4:E2 Field Sobriety Testing with Attorney DiNardi

In this episode, Teresa DiNardi, of Ruane Attorneys' DUI Team breaks down the field sobriety tests and explains how they came to be and what the limitations are in a DUI case.
If you are pulled over for a Connecticut DUI, chances are that the police officer will ask you to take standardized field sobriety tests. These tests are the walk-and-turn test, the one leg stand test, and the horizontal gaze nystagmus test. These tests supposedly determine whether or not a person is intoxicated, but they are flawed. Teresa explains more here.
To learn more about the standardized field sobriety tests, check out our website.