Kentucky DUI Penalties | Consequences of Drunk Driving in Kentucky : Jail Time, Fines, License Suspension
First Kentucky DUI:
- $200 - $500 fine
- 2 - 30 days incarceration
- 90 day Alcohol or Substance Abuse Program
- 30 - 120 Day Driver's License Suspension
- Possible 48 hours - 30 days community labor
- Note: If aggravating circumstances are present: 4 days imprisonment
Second Kentucky DUI:
- $350 - $500 fine
- 7 days - 6 months in jail
- 1 year Alcohol or Substance Abuse Program
- 12 - 18 month Driver's License Suspension
- 10 day - 6 months community labor
- Note: If aggravating circumstances are present: 14 days imprisonment
Third Kentucky DUI:
- $500 - $1,000 fine
- 30 days - 12 months in jail
- 1 year Alcohol or Substance Abuse Program
- 24 to 36 month Driver's License Suspension
- 10 days - 12 months community labor
- Note: If aggravating circumstances are present: 60 days imprisonment
Fourth Kentucky DUI (Class D Felony):
- Minimum term 120 days imprisonment without probation
- 1 year Alcohol or Substance Abuse Program
- 60 month Driver's License Suspension
- Note: If aggravating circumstances are present: 240 days imprisonment
| Over 30 mph over speed limit | Wrong way on limited access road | Causes accident resulting in death or serious physical injury |
| Alcohol level of .18 or more within 2 hours after operating | Refusal to submit to testing | Transporting passengers under 12 years of age |
Kentucky DUI Laws - Relevant Statutes
Kentucky Revised Statutes Title XVI Chapter 189A Driving Under the Influence
- 189A.005 Definitions for chapter; license suspensions
- 189A.010 Operating motor vehicle with alcohol concentration of or above 0.08, or of or above 0.02 for persons under age twenty-one, or while under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance, or other substance which impairs driving ability prohibited; admissibility of alcohol concentration test results; presumptions; penalties; aggravating circumstances
- 189A.020 Community labor program; terms and conditions
- 189A.030 Terms of imprisonment for first and second offenders
- 189A.040 Alcohol or substance abuse treatment and education programs; sentencing offenders to programs; regulation of programs; appeals of decisions regarding licensure of education and treatment facilities and programs
- 189A.045 Enrollment in alcohol or drug education or treatment programs; attendance; reporting and effect of failure to attend; reporting of completion of program
- 189A.050 Service fee; amount; payment; remedies for nonpayment; use of revenue from fees collected
- 189A.070 License revocations; time periods; completion of alcohol or substance treatment or education program required before reinstatement
- 189A.080 Surrender and forwarding of suspended or revoked licenses
- 189A.085 Surrender and impoundment of motor vehicle license plates; hardship exception for affected individuals other than offender
- 189A.090 Operating motor vehicle while license is revoked or suspended for driving under the influence prohibited; operating motor vehicle without required ignition interlock device prohibited; penalties
- 189A.100 Administration of preliminary breath tests; visual recording of vehicle pursuits, traffic stops, and field sobriety tests; conditions of recording; use and destruction of recordings
- 189A.103 Consent to tests for alcohol concentration or substance which may impair driving ability; test procedures; who may administer; personal testing
- 189A.104 Alcohol or substance testing subject to refusal or enhancement of penalties under KRS Chapter 189A
- 189A.105 Effect of refusal to submit to tests; information required to be provided when tests requested; courtordered testing; right to consult attorney before submitting to tests; personal testing option
- 189A.107 License suspension for refusal to take alcohol or substance tests; hearing on alleged refusal; time period for suspension
- 189A.110 Minimum detention in custody when blood alcohol reading exceeds 15 percent
- 189A.120 Prosecutor's duties with regard to amendment of charges; amendment of blood alcohol concentration; record of charges and amendments
- 189A.130 Assessment of fines; response to nonpayment
- 189A.200 Pretrial suspension of license of person charged with driving under the influence for refusing to take test, for being a repeat offender, and for causing accident resulting in death or serious physical injury to another person for being a repeat offender; hearing; length of suspension
- 189A.210 Duty of court clerk to obtain defendant's driving history record upon arrest for driving while impaired
- 189A.220 Judicial review of pretrial license suspension for test refusal
- 189A.240 Judicial review of pretrial license suspension for repeat offender
- 189A.250 Judicial review of pretrial suspension imposed under KRS 189A 200(1)(c)
- 189A.300 Provision of alcohol test instruments to counties
- 189A.310 Attacking admissibility of prior convictions to enhance penalties; procedure; standard
- 189A.320 Court reporting of convictions and license revocations to Transportation Cabinet
- 189A.330 Reporting by clerk of cases pending more than ninety days; actions by Attorney General and Chief Justice
- 189A.340 Ignition interlock devices
- 189A.345 Penalties for violation of KRS 189A.410 and 189A.340 governing ignition interlock devices
- 189A.400 District Court jurisdiction over issuance of hardship license; county attorney's review of application and right to object
- 189A.410 Purposes for issuance of hardship license; use of ignition interlock device may be required; prohibition against issuance when alcohol or substance test was refused
- 189A.420 Required information for issuance of hardship license
- 189A.430 Permit card and window decal for hardship driving privileges; requirement to carry permit; penalty for failure to display decal
- 189A.440 Prohibition against use of vehicle other than for purpose authorized by hardship license; penalty; penalty for false application statement
- 189A.450 Service fee for hardship driving privileges
- 189A.460 Transportation Cabinet's responsibility as to administrative regulations and forms relating to hardship licenses
The skilled Kentucky DUI lawyers on this site can help you with all aspects of your drunk driving arrest including: further information on DUI penalties, fines, and consequences, administrative driver's license suspension or revocation, Under 21 DUI Drunk Driving and Zero Tolerance Laws, SR-22 insurance, DUI School, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Victim Impact Panels, how to beat a DUI, Ignition Interlock Devices, SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Monitoring Device, DUI Expungement, DUI Diversion, Community Service, and all other issues surrounding your Kentucky Drunk Driving DUI Arrest.
Kentucky DUI Attorneys can help fight for your Rights following a DUI arrest in Bowling Green, Covington, Lexington, Louisville, Owensboro, Paducah, Richmond, or anywhere else in Kentucky.