There are many possible penalties imposed on drivers who are arrested for impairment at the wheel in Kentucky. People may spend a day or more in state custody after their arrest. They may face arraignment and criminal prosecution after their initial arrest if the state has evidence supporting its initial charges.
Should a motorist plead guilty or get convicted, they will then face penalties ranging from probation to incarceration. Oftentimes, there are also driver’s license penalties imposed for a drunk driving infraction in Kentucky. Some people accused of intoxication at the wheel also need to install an ignition interlock device (IID) in their vehicle for a time, if their license remains valid or is reinstated.
An IID can shorten license suspension
The purpose of an IID is to establish if someone is sober enough to drive or not. Anyone who has test results of 0.02% or higher when using an IID in their vehicle will usually not be able to drive and will have the record of their test failure passed on to the state.
Motorists with an IID in their vehicles can potentially establish a recent history of safe driving that will allow them to regain their full driving privileges more quickly. Typically, those with an IID installed will need to go between 90 and 120 days with records showing that they were consistently sober of the wheel if they want their IID to help reduce their license suspension.
Provided that someone has consistently driven while sober for multiple months with an IID in their vehicle, the Kentucky courts can reduce how long they are subject to license suspension, thereby allowing them to regain driving privileges and move on with their lives more quickly.
Those who worry that a lengthy license suspension could turn into a significant hardship may want to explore whether applying to install an IID in their vehicle might be a viable option after a drunk driving conviction. Other motorists may want to plan a more assertive defense to avoid licensing complications. Learning about the different approaches that may be applicable to those accused of impaired driving in Kentucky may help people more successfully navigate the criminal justice system.