We all worry that we are going to get into trouble with the law and that we may be pulled over. If you are driving under the influence, you may very well be pulled over and jailed. Just what are the penalties for driving under the influence and do you need help with a DUI in Kentucky?
What is a DUI?
DUI, driving under the influence, though it is similar to driving while drunk , it is not necessarily the same thing. A DUI can mean that you are drunk, that you have used drugs, or that you are under the influence of a substance that has altered your ability to safely drive and operate a motor vehicle. DUI does carry a very serious penalty that does make it hard for people to come back from and to recover from.
A DUI is a very serious issue, it can lead to the loss of your license, accidents and so much more. If you are thinking of driving while you are under the influence, you should always try to find an alternative that is safer and less risky for all involved.
What is the Penalty for DUI In Kentucky?
There are a few different things to keep in mind with DUI arrests. In most cases, if it is your first offense your punishment is going to be less serious than it might be if you were a repeat offender. For your first offense within a ten year period your penalty is likely to be a 6 month suspension of your license and a 90 day alcohol or substance abuse program. For your second offense during the same period you will have to go through a one year substance or alcohol abuse program and are likely to get your license suspended for up to 18 months.
For a third offense during the same period, you will again have to go through the one-year program and will then have your license suspended longer, for 36 months. For a fourth offense you will have a on year treatment program and will have your license suspended for 60 months. These are just punishments for those that have not caused any injury or have not caused any accidents while they were driving drunk.
You can also do time in jail if you are a repeat offender and the court feels that you are a risk to yourself and others and if they feel that you might offend again or that you might cause another accident. If you are dealing with a DUI and you have been arrested for it before, you are likely to get a harder punishment to keep you from offending again and to help ensure that there is not going to be another accident.
It is so difficult to know exactly what your penalty is going to be when driving under the influence. Your attorney is going to be able to better outline possible punishment and possible penalties that you may end up having to withstand. In cases where there is an accident or where you cause damage to another person or to property, your penalty will likely be even worse. If you are dealing with an injury accident, you are likely going to be up on a personal injury case or even a wrongful death case if someone dies.
What Can An Attorney Do?
An attorney is going to be able to help you do a great deal of things regarding your DUI and how to deal with it. For starters, your attorney is going to be able to create a clear and concise picture of what happened and of the events that either led up to the DUI arrest. They can help you to build a timeline, argue your case, and they can also help you to ensure that you are going to be able to get a fair shake and a fair trial in terms of your DUI arrest. They are also going to be able to take account for your medical records if you did go to the hospital when you were arrested and they can also get witness accounts.
In most cases, if you are guilty of a DUI there is no real way to get out of it entirely. You can do a few things and get help with a lesser sentence and can even get your penalty lessened to something like parole or community service. If you are dealing with a DUI, you need to take the time to make sure that you are making certain that you are following all the rules and that you are making a concentrated effort to move on and to go without offending again.
As penalties go for DUI, Kentucky has a rather lenient penalty and there are not a ton of different issues when it comes to dealing with DUI. In most cases, the penalty is rather straight forward and is going to be something that is fairly simple to understand. Your attorney is going to be able to help you determine what the overall process is, what your penalty will be and if there is anything that you can do to make the penalty less or to lessen what you have to deal with.
Driving under the influence is never ok, it puts you and other drivers at risk and taking the time to find a ride can make all the difference. If you are faced with a DUI, it is always best to face up to what you have done and to work with an attorney to get your case heard and to make sure that you get a penalty that you can serve out. Most DUIs are not something that stays on your record forever. After a few years your DUI will fall off and you will not have to deal with it any longer. Staying safe and staying off the road can make a huge difference overall.
