Bicycle DUI Laws in Connecticut
Last reviewed by BikeSize EditorialThis guide is for general information only and is not legal advice. Laws change - verify current rules with your state DOT or a licensed attorney before relying on this for any legal matter. Read full disclaimer.
The rule
In Connecticut, the DUI statute does not apply to bicyclists — it covers motor-vehicle operators only. Connecticut's OUI statute (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-227a) applies only to operators of a 'motor vehicle,' and § 14-1(56) defines motor vehicle to exclude human-powered bicycles. Cyclists impaired in public may still face reckless-operation charges under § 14-289b or public-intoxication penalties, but the OUI consequences - including a 45-day licence suspension and ignition interlock - do not attach to bicycle operation. See Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-227a (Operation while under the influence).
Statute
What this means in practice
A DUI charge isn't on the table for cyclists in Connecticut, but that's not a license to ride drunk — public-intoxication, reckless-conduct, and disorderly-conduct charges can still apply, and cycling impaired dramatically raises crash risk.
Ride sharp, ride legal
Run a 60-second pre-ride safety check
DUI, impairment, and distraction laws all assume you are riding a bike that is actually safe to ride. The M-check takes a minute and catches the things that get you hurt.
See the M-check guide