DUI/DWI.


DUI/DWI (commonly referred to as drunk driving) cases involving first, second and third offenses within a five year period are handled in District Court. Fourth offense Driving Under the Influence (the Kentucky equivalent of Driving While Intoxicated) is a felony. All DUI convictions carry a mandatory license suspension. Even a first offense DUI requires a 30 day suspension that is not eligible for a hardship license - to travel to work or school. Second and greater offense DUIs result in mandatory jail time. All DUIs include high fines and court ordered alcohol and drug classes.

Under Kentucky law a driver can commit the offense of Driving Under the Influence of alcohol or drugs or a combination of both (this includes prescription drugs). Driving Under the Influence cases are sometimes based upon the use of marijuana, but can be difficult for the prosecution to prove. Kentucky law enforcement officers frequently request breath, blood and urine tests to detect the presence of drugs or alcohol. These tests are generally administered after the administration of field sobriety tests ( walk and turn, horizontal gas nystagmus, one legged stand) and the portable breath test (PBT).

Before a police officer may request a blood, breath or urine test, he or she is required to advise a defendant he or she is entitled to contact an attorney before submitting to any test. The defendant has not less than ten but not more than 15 minutes to attempt to contact and speak to a lawyer. After taking all the tests requested by the officer, the defendant is entitled to a blood test at his or her own expense and must be informed of this by the officer. A defendant is entitled to an independent blood test even if he or she has already submitted to an officer requested blood test.

There is no substitute for experience. Wesley Browne is both experienced and successful in representing individuals charged with Driving Under the Influence. Call today for your free consultation.

			Read Wes Browne's Articles in the Richmond Register