Have you been arrested or charged with DUI in Campbell County, KY? Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers can help you defend yourself and fight to protect your future. Give our law office a call today to arrange a time to discuss your case with our Campbell County DUI defense lawyers in detail today.
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How Our DUI Lawyers Can Defend You Against Your Criminal Charge
If you were recently charged with driving under the influence in Northern Kentucky, you are probably quite worried about how your arrest will impact your life. Will you lose your license and be forced to take an Uber to work? Or will you end up spending some time in jail, away from your family and friends?
Before you grow too anxious, however, it is important to remember that you can only face these consequences if the prosecution can convict you. As such, it is in your best interest to make their job as difficult as possible. A Campbell County criminal defense lawyer from Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers, can help you do just that.
Our attorneys are committed to working tirelessly on behalf of the people of Campbell County. When you hire us to help you fight back against your DUI charge, we will:
Help You Devise an Effective Defense Strategy
The best way to prevent a DUI charge from becoming a conviction is with the help of an effective defense strategy. A brief list of some of the most commonly used drunk driving defenses would include:
- Showing that the initial stop was unlawful
- Proving that the chemical testing equipment was inaccurate, and
- Claiming that the arresting officer improperly administered the BAC test.
When you hire the law firm of Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers, we will take the time to study your case and devise a defense strategy that is tailored to your specific situation.
Provide You with Sound Legal Advice
The actions that you take as your Campbell County drunk driving case progresses can have a sizable impact on its eventual outcome. If you can consistently make smart, well-thought-out moves, you may be able to boost your chances of getting your charge dropped or reduced.
Of course, if you have never been through a DUI case before, you won’t have any way to know which actions to take or when to take them. Fortunately, when you work with our law firm, you won’t have to. Our attorneys will provide you with all of the advice and guidance you need to keep your case moving in the right direction.
Represent You at Your DUI Trial
If your drunk driving case goes to trial, your fate will be decided by a district court judge and a jury of your peers. Given the enormous impact such a proceeding could have on your life, you would be wise to have an experienced attorney by your side at all times.
When you work with Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers, “experience” is exactly what you will get. Our lawyers have spent many years arguing in criminal courts throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky – and we are ready to use everything we learned during that time to help your trial run smoothly.
When you are ready to hire a DUI attorney from our law firm, all you need to do is give us a call or send us a message online. As soon as we hear from you, we will set up a free consultation to discuss your case in greater detail and take the first step toward building a strong attorney-client relationship.
Understanding the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s DUI Laws
The practice of drunk driving is outlawed in the Bluegrass State by section 189A.010 of the Kentucky Revised Code. This law explains that a person cannot “operate or be in physical control of a motor vehicle anywhere in this state” while they:
- Have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) that is higher than 0.08 percent
- Have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) that is higher than 0.02 percent – if they have not yet turned 21
- Are under the influence of alcohol
- Are under the influence of any other substance that may hamper their driving abilities, or
- Are under the combined influence of alcohol and another substance that impairs their driving abilities.
Under Kentucky law, an individual does not need to be driving on a public road or highway to be charged with a DUI. They merely need to be in “physical control” of their vehicle.
Law enforcement officers in Campbell County have been known to arrest people for having an elevated BAC while:
- Sitting in their parked vehicle with the keys in the ignition
- Sitting in their broken-down vehicle on the side of a highway
- Standing next to their vehicle after an accident
Because the “physical control” rule is somewhat vague, anyone who interacts with a vehicle while they have alcohol in their system can potentially be arrested for DUI.
How Do Kentucky Law Enforcement Officers Measure a Driver’s BAC?
When police officers in Campbell County, and elsewhere in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, wish to measure a suspect’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC), they have three options. They are:
- Breath tests
- Blood tests
- Urine tests
Because Kentucky law stipulates that all chemical testing must take place within two hours of “cessation of operation or physical control of a motor vehicle,” most officers use the breath test. A breathalyzer device can return results in a matter of minutes. A standard blood or urine test can take much longer.
The experienced lawyers here at Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers, are well-versed in just about every aspect of Kentucky traffic and criminal law. So, if you have been caught driving with an elevated BAC, please do not hesitate to give us a call. We may be able to help you get your DUI charges dropped or reduced.
Punishments for DUI Convictions in Campbell County
The penalties handed out to convicted drunk drivers in Campbell County, and throughout Kentucky, depend on the number of times they have been found guilty of DUI in the past five years:
First DUI Offense in Five Years
- Between 2 and 30 days of jail time
- A 30- to 120-day driver’s license suspension
- A $200 to $500 fine
- Admission to a 90-day drug and alcohol abuse course
- A 2- to 30-day community labor order
Second DUI Offense in Five Years
- Between 7 days and 6 months of jail time
- A 12- to 18-month driver’s license suspension
- A $350 to $500 fine
- Admission to a one-year drug and alcohol abuse course
- A 10-day to 6-month community labor order
Third DUI Offense in Five Years
- Between 30 days and 12 months of jail time
- A 24- to 36-month driver’s license suspension
- A $500 to $1,000 fine
- Admission to a one-year drug and alcohol abuse course
- A 10-day to 12-month community labor order
Fourth DUI Offense in Five Years
- A Class D felony
- At least 120 days of prison time without parole
- A 60-month driver’s license suspension
- Admission to a one-year drug and alcohol abuse course
The Impact of Aggravating Circumstances on Kentucky DUI Punishments
Drunk drivers in the Commonwealth of Kentucky can have their jail or prison sentence doubled if the prosecution proves that their crime occurred under one of the following “aggravating circumstances:”
- Traveling more than 30 miles per hour over the posted speed limit
- Traveling in the wrong direction on a limited-access road
- Causing a crash that kills or seriously injures another person
- Operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of more than 0.15 percent
- Refusing to submit to chemical testing, or
- Traveling with passengers who are younger than 12 years of age.
The attorneys here at the law firm of Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers, are licensed by the State Bar of Kentucky to defend the residents of Campbell County against their drunk driving charges. Give us a call today if you would like to have us stand up for you.
How to Get a Driver’s License Reinstated After a DUI/DWI Suspension in Kentucky
When Campbell County drivers lose their license as the result of a drunk driving conviction, they are typically quite keen to get back on the road as soon as possible. Before they can do so, however, they must follow these steps:
- Wait: Before they can get their license reinstated, drivers must wait until their suspension period has concluded.
- Pay Fines: The Commonwealth of Kentucky will not reinstate a license if the driver has not paid their DUI fines.
- Complete Their Course: Before they can get their license back, drunk drivers must prove that they completed their alcohol abuse course.
- Pay a Reinstatement Fee: The fee to have a driver’s license reinstated in Kentucky is currently $40.
If you lost your license after a DUI conviction and need a skilled criminal defense attorney to help you get it back, please contact the law firm of Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers, as soon as possible. We are always ready, willing, and able to assist our friends and neighbors in Campbell County.
Your Trusted Campbell County DUI Lawyer
If you want a skilled attorney to defend you against your Kentucky DUI charges, you need to look no further than the law firm of Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers. Our legal team has been helping the people of Campbell County get their criminal charges dismissed and reduced for years. Reach out to us today to learn more about how we can use our experience and expertise to assist you with your case.
Campbell County DUI Resources
- Breath Test in Kentucky
- Driving Privileges in Northern Kentucky
- Felony DUI in Kentucky
- First Time DUI Defense
- Urine Test in Kentucky
- Vehicle Seizure in Northern Kentucky