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Louisville DUI Lawyers

Being pulled over and charged with driving under the influence (DUI) in Jefferson County can certainly be a frightening experience. However, your initial arrest does not necessarily have to lead to a conviction and subsequent punishment. With the help of an experienced Louisville DUI lawyer, like those here at Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers, it may be possible to have your charge reduced or dismissed.

No matter why the police chose to arrest you for driving under the influence, our Louisville law firm is always ready to help you fight back against the charges. To discuss your case with a member of our legal team, just give us a call to arrange a free consultation.

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Joe Suhre is a great lawyer if you are ever in need of one! My partner was incarcerated for 10 months, he got on the case within the last 30 days and brought him home.

Naraya Henry

Suhre and Associates care about their clients and work hard for them. I highly recommend this firm.

Alan Crone

They were of great help to me in navigating the legal process. Provided excellent communication and assistance. Highly recommend!

Amy Rodriguez

If you need an amazing attorney the best suggestion would be Robin Bennett, she was kind and went straight to the point when I told her about my issue, she helped me with my domestic violence case and everythings been cleared now! My family is grateful and I hope she has a blessed day!

Ahmad

Delivered on all promises. We couldn’t be HAPPIER! I would absolutely recommend this firm.

Willie Lowe

I was impressed with the professionalism and excellent service from this office. Highly recommend!

Chris

Proven Experience

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DUI 2nd offense aggravated dismissed after establishing stop was illegal

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1st time DUI offense amended to careless driving

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Successful motion to suppress secured dismissal of marijuana DUID.

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Ohio, Kentucky, & Indiana DUI Attorneys and Criminal Lawyers

The DUI and criminal lawyers at Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers have over 100 years of collective experience. Our criminal defense attorney team includes both a former police officer and former prosecutor attorney.

We provide aggressive legal representation in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Call our law offices today to get started with your case. We are available 24/7 to take your call.

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Understanding Kentucky’s
DUI Laws

In the state of Kentucky, there are two main ways a driver can be pulled over and charged with driving under the influence (DUI). They are:

DUI Per Se

Section 189A.010(1)(a) of the Kentucky Revised Statutes explains that a person can be charged with a DUI if they are found to be operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) that is above the legal limit. For most adults, the legal limit in the state of Kentucky is 0.08. For drivers under the age of 21, the limit is reduced to 0.02. To determine a driver’s BAC, police officers in Kentucky generally use a breathalyzer. However, they may also use a blood test.

Opinion DUI

Section 189A.010(1)(b) of the Kentucky Revised Statutes states that a driver may be charged with a DUI if a police officer believes that they are under the influence of alcohol or another controlled substance. In determining whether or not they believe a suspect is intoxicated, officers may observe the suspect’s behavior and performance in field sobriety tests. A failed blood or breathalyzer test is not necessary to charge a driver with a DUI of this nature.

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How Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers Can Help You After Your DUI Arrest

Providing You With Sound Legal Advice

Negotiating With the Prosecution

Representing you in Court

The actions that you take during the course of your case will have a huge bearing on its eventual outcome. If you make smart decisions, you may be more likely to achieve a favorable outcome. However, if you make some foolhardy moves, you might increase your chances of being convicted and punished.

Our DUI defense attorneys have been working within the Kentucky judicial system for years. As a result, we have a keen understanding of the right calls to make when difficult situations arise. When you enlist our help, we will provide you with the advice you need to get through your case smoothly.

In many DUI cases, it is possible to speak with the prosecuting attorney to convince them to reduce the charge to reckless driving or a similar offense. Doing so can potentially prevent serious punishments like license suspensions and jail time.

The Louisville DUI lawyers here at Suhre & Associates, LLC have the skill and experience to negotiate with state prosecutors on your behalf. If the prosecuting attorney is willing to make a deal, we will work tirelessly to try to make it happen for you.

As your DUI case progresses, you will most likely need to make at least one appearance in court. If you want those appearances to go off without a hitch, you will need the assistance of an experienced DUI attorney.

Having represented countless clients in courtrooms throughout Kentucky, our lawyers understand how the process works. When you hire us, we can help you make sure that your appearances run smoothly and you make a good impression on the judge.

To learn more about the legal services offered by the attorneys here at the Louisville law office of Suhre & Associates, LLC, all you need to do is give us a call and set up a free consultation. We will be happy to review your drunk driving case and provide you with more information about how we can assist.

Practice Areas

DUI Overview

DUI Defenses

Drugged Driving (DUID)

DUI Penalties

Ignition Interlock

DUI Diversion

Professional Licenses

Driving After DUI

Under 21 DUI

Potential Defense Strategies in Kentucky DUI Cases

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If you wish to avoid being convicted and punished after a DUI arrest, you will need an effective defense strategy. A short sampling of some of the most commonly used defenses in DUI cases would include:

Unlawful Stop

Law enforcement officers are only allowed to pull drivers over if they have “reasonable suspicion” that they are committing a crime or have recently committed a crime. If your attorney can prove that the officer did not have reasonable suspicion to stop you, you could be able to get your case dismissed.

Inaccurate Tests

In most DUI cases, the result of the blood or breath test is one of the most important pieces of evidence in the prosecution’s arsenal. If your defense lawyer can show that these results are unreliable or inaccurate, they may be able to have the evidence tossed out. As a result, your charges will likely be dropped or reduced.

Improper Field Sobriety Tests

When administering field sobriety tests, police officers must follow certain rules and protocols. If your DUI defense attorney can prove that the officer did not conduct your field sobriety test correctly, the prosecution will not be able to use it as evidence. Consequently, your case may be dismissed or your charges may be reduced.

Penalties for Driving Under the Influence in Kentucky

First DUI Offense within Five Years

Second DUI Offense within Five Years

Third DUI Offense within Five Years

Fourth DUI Offense within Five Years

The penalties for driving under the influence (DUI) in the state of Kentucky are largely dependent on how often the driver has been caught drunk driving in the past. This means that a first-time offense will be treated very differently than a second or third offense.

Most adults who are convicted of driving under the influence for the first time in five years will be subject to the following punishments:

A fine of between $200 and $500
A jail sentence of 2 to 30 days
A driver’s license suspension of 30 to 120 days
Mandatory enrollment in a 90-day alcohol or substance abuse treatment plan
The possibility of 2 to 30 days of court-ordered community service

A DUI charge becomes significantly more severe if it is not the first offense in the past five years. The majority of adults who are found guilty of driving under the influence for a second time within five years will face the following penalties:

A fine of between $350 and $500
A jail sentence of 7 days to 6 months
A driver’s license suspension of 12 to 18 months
Mandatory enrollment in a one-year alcohol or substance abuse treatment plan
The possibility of 10 days to 6 months of court-ordered community service

You may have gotten away without hiring a lawyer the first time, but you should strongly consider retaining an experienced lawyer if you are facing your second DUI charge. A second offense. Whereas the penalties for a first-time DUI could be resolved within six months, a second-time DUI offense could possibly impact your life for well over a year.

The bulk of adults who are convicted of a third DUI offense in five years will face the following punishments:

A fine of between $500 and $1,000
A jail sentence of 30 days to 12 months
A driver’s license suspension of 24 to 36 months
Mandatory enrollment in a one-year alcohol or substance abuse treatment plan
The possibility of 10 days to 12 months of court-ordered community service

Most adults who are found guilty of driving under the influence four or more times within five years will be subject to the following penalties:

A Class D felony on their criminal record
A jail sentence of at least 120 days – without the possibility of parole
A driver’s license suspension of 60 months
Mandatory enrollment in a one-year alcohol or substance abuse treatment plan

Whether you are on your first DUI or your fourth, you can count on Suhre & Associates, LLC to stand up and provide you with a vigorous defense. To learn more about how our experienced criminal defense lawyers in Louisville can help with your case, please reach out to us today to set up an initial consultation.

How Aggravating Circumstances May Impact Kentucky DUI Penalties

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We have handled all kinds of DUI cases in Kentucky

Under Kentucky law, DUI offenses that include aggravated offenses may be punished more severely than standard DUI offenses. A brief list of the circumstances that the state considers to be aggravating would include:

Driving more than 30 MPH over the speed limit
Driving the wrong way on a limited-access highway
Driving with a passenger that is younger than 12 years of age
Causing an accident that results in a death or a serious injury
Refusing to submit to blood-alcohol testing
Driving with a BAC of 0.15 or higher

When one or more of these circumstances are present, DUI punishments can be increased as follows:

First Offense: Minimum jail sentence increased from 2 days to 4 days
Second Offense: Minimum jail sentence increased from 7 days to 14 days
Third Offense: Minimum jail sentence increased from 30 days to 60 days
Fourth Offense: Minimum jail sentence increased from 120 days to 240 days

For more information on how aggravated circumstances can impact your DUI case, please contact the Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers legal team. We are always available to provide you with the information you need.

A Louisville DUI Lawyer You Can Count On

At Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers we have been helping Louisville residents fight back against their DUI charges for years. We have over 100 years of combined experience and our team of skilled attorneys includes a former police officer and former prosecutors. Do not risk your future by not hiring a top criminal defense lawyer to fight for you.

We offer a free, no-obligations consultation. When you call us, we will listen to your case details and provide you with all the information we can to reassure you that you have options available. Call us now or contact us to schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys.