Driving under the influence (DUI) laws in Kentucky impose numerous penalties on those who drive after drinking too much. Especially if you have a prior conviction on your record, you could end up facing jail time over a drunk driving arrest. Even drivers who get arrested for poor driving, not for causing crashes, will face numerous penalties if they plead guilty.
DUI charges will also usually mean financial penalties including fines and increased insurance rates, which can strain someone’s budget for years after their arrest. Drivers also need to worry about whether they will lose their licenses. Someone who drives for a living will very likely lose their eligibility for a commercial license even if their DUI charge is the result of an arrest while driving their own vehicle and not while they are at work.
The average driver could lose their standard driver’s license if they plead guilty to a DUI offense. Losing your license means relying on other people, public transportation or rideshare services to get around the state, which may not be very practical. How long might you lose your license for after a DUI conviction?
The length of suspension increases with each offense
The penalties you face for a DUI charge increase with each subsequent arrest. The length of your license suspension increases, just like the fines and possible jail time. A first-time DUI offense will usually lead to a six-month license suspension.
Anyone who gets arrested for a second DUI within 10 years of the first will likely lose their license for up to 18 months. A third offense within 10 years of the first will mean 36 months or three years with a suspended license. Fourth offenses will mean 60 months or five years without driving privileges. The state will likely also require that you undergo alcohol or substance abuse treatment for anywhere from 90 days to a full year following a guilty plea or conviction for a DUI offense.
The only way to avoid these serious penalties is to defend yourself against pending DUI charges. Reviewing the evidence against you and learning about state law can help you fight back against your upcoming drunk driving charges.