A DUI arrest can happen to anyone: a teacher driving home from dinner, a nurse coming off a late shift, a student after a party. A conviction can cost you your license, raise your insurance, put your job at risk, and follow you for years.
At The Law Office of Jeger Ali PLLC, we defend people charged with DUI in Bowling Green, Warren County, and throughout South Central Kentucky. We know what’s at stake, and we look at every part of your arrest for a way to reduce or beat the charge.
Call 270-202-0768 to talk with a Bowling Green DUI defense lawyer about your case.
Why Choose The Law Office of Jeger Ali PLLC?
- Local practice. We appear regularly in Warren District Court and the courts of surrounding counties.
- A full review of your arrest. We examine the stop, the field sobriety tests, the breath or blood test, and the officer’s video.
- Criminal and immigration experience. If you are not a U.S. citizen, we evaluate how a DUI could affect your status before you make any decision.
- Straight answers. You will know where your case stands and what your options are at every stage.
DUI Laws in Kentucky
Kentucky law (KRS 189A.010) makes it illegal to drive or be in physical control of a vehicle:
- With a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher
- While under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any other substance that impairs your ability to drive, including prescription and over-the-counter medications
- With certain controlled substances in your blood, even without proof of impairment
- With a BAC of 0.02% or higher if you are under 21
Kentucky uses a 10-year lookback period. Any prior DUI within the last 10 years counts toward the penalties for a new charge.
Kentucky DUI Penalties
First DUI Offense
- Fine of $200 to $500, plus court costs and fees
- 48 hours to 30 days in jail, or community labor in place of jail
- 90-day alcohol or substance abuse education or treatment program
- License suspension of up to 6 months, which may be shortened with an ignition interlock license
Second DUI Offense Within 10 Years
- Fine of $350 to $500, plus court costs and fees
- 7 days to 6 months in jail
- 10 days to 6 months of community labor
- One-year alcohol or substance abuse treatment program
- License suspension of 12 to 18 months
- Ignition interlock device required to drive during and after the suspension
Third DUI Offense Within 10 Years
- Fine of $500 to $1,000, plus court costs and fees
- 30 days to 12 months in jail
- 10 days to 12 months of community labor
- One-year alcohol or substance abuse treatment program
- License suspension of 24 to 36 months
- Ignition interlock device required
Fourth or Subsequent DUI Offense Within 10 Years
- Class D felony, punishable by 1 to 5 years in prison
- Mandatory minimum of 120 days in jail
- One-year alcohol or substance abuse treatment program
- License suspension of 60 months
- Ignition interlock device required
Aggravating Circumstances
Under KRS 189A.010, certain aggravating circumstances increase the mandatory minimum jail time. For example, the minimum becomes 4 days on a first offense, 14 days on a second, 60 days on a third, and 240 days on a fourth. Aggravating circumstances include:
- Driving 30 mph or more over the speed limit
- Driving the wrong way on a limited-access highway
- Causing an accident that results in death or serious physical injury
- A BAC of 0.15% or higher within two hours of driving
- Refusing a breath, blood, or urine test (does not apply to a first offense)
- Having a passenger under 12 years old in the vehicle
Refusing a Breath, Blood, or Urine Test
Under Kentucky’s implied consent law, refusing a chemical test leads to its own license suspension, separate from the DUI case. Refusal can also be used against you at trial, and on a second or later offense it is an aggravating circumstance that increases mandatory jail time. The length of the refusal suspension increases with each prior refusal or DUI within 10 years.
If you refused a test, talk to a lawyer quickly. There are strict deadlines to challenge a pretrial license suspension.
How a DUI Charge Can Be Fought
A DUI arrest is not a conviction. Many cases have weaknesses that only show up when a lawyer looks closely. We examine:
- The traffic stop. Did the officer have a lawful reason to pull you over?
- Field sobriety tests. Were they given correctly, and could weather, the road surface, footwear, a medical condition, or nerves explain your performance?
- The breath test. Was the machine properly maintained and calibrated, and did the officer follow the required observation period?
- Blood and urine tests. Was the sample collected, stored, and tested correctly, and was a warrant required?
- Video evidence. Does the dash cam or body cam match what the officer wrote in the report?
Depending on the facts, we may be able to get evidence suppressed, the charge reduced to a lesser offense, or the case dismissed.
DUI and Immigration Status
For non-citizens, a DUI can affect DACA eligibility, naturalization, visa renewals, and future immigration applications. A DUI involving drugs, injury, or repeat offenses can carry even more serious immigration consequences. Because our firm handles both criminal defense and immigration cases, we evaluate these risks from the start.
Talk to a Bowling Green DUI Lawyer Today
Arrested for DUI in Bowling Green? Don’t assume the case is over. The sooner we review your arrest, the more options we can protect, including your license. Call 270-202-0768 or contact us online to speak with Attorney Jeger Ali about your DUI charge.