Lawmakers in both Kentucky’s House and Senate are going to present legislation making drunken driving laws even tougher. If passed and signed by Governor Steve Beshear, the proposal would double the so-called “look-back period” from 5 to 10 years.
Right now, Kentucky courts can add punishments to a DUI violation if the offender has been found guilty of previous violations within a 5-year-period.
During the state Senate’s 2015 session, a similar bill was passed, but the House never voted on the proposal. Opponents said costs of the measure were prohibitive. But the Senator who introduced the bill said the costs had been miscalculated and that they turn out to be “manageable.” According to a news report, he is reintroducing his proposal.
If it’s passed, a person arrested for drunk driving in Marshall County could face increased incarceration, as well as longer license suspension, larger fines and even a longer period of having an ignition interlock device required in a vehicle.
Right now, a second DUI offense within 5 years can result in a sentence including 7 days to 6 months in jail. A third offense raises the stakes, as a conviction can mean a sentence of 30 days to 1 year in jail. A fourth conviction for driving under the influence means a mandatory of “120 Days imprisonment without probation,” the commonwealth says on its website.
For a Benton resident facing any of those harsh possibilities, the stakes are very high. An experienced DUI defense attorney fights for your freedom and your driving privileges, ensuring that your rights are protected. A DUI lawyer conducts a detailed examination of all evidence, beginning from the moment you were pulled over to the moment you were taken into custody.
