Kentucky DUI Lawyer & DUI Defense Attorney

Kentucky ranks 8th nationally in DUI enforcement, with over 17,000 DUI arrests each year and approximately 192 alcohol-related traffic deaths annually. A DUI conviction carries severe consequences including jail time, license suspension, heavy fines, and a permanent criminal record. Even a first-offense DUI in Kentucky can mean 48 hours in jail, a 30-to-120-day license suspension, and lasting insurance consequences. From her Georgetown office, Attorney Ashley Larmour provides aggressive DUI defense for clients in Scott County and Central Kentucky, challenging the evidence against you and fighting to protect your driving privileges.

Kentucky Legal Alcohol Limit (BAC Limits)

Kentucky enforces strict blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limits depending on the type of driver:

• Standard Drivers (21+) — 0.08% BAC or higher
• Commercial Drivers — 0.04% BAC or higher
• Drivers Under 21 — 0.02% BAC or higher (zero-tolerance policy)

You can also be charged below the limit. Under KRS 189A.010(3), an alcohol concentration under 0.04 is presumed not to be under the influence, but a result from 0.04 up to 0.08 creates no presumption either way and can be weighed with other evidence of impairment. A DUI can also rest on impairment by drugs, or on the presence of certain listed controlled substances in the blood. A driver under 21 between 0.02 and 0.08 faces a fine of $100 to $500 or 20 hours of community service; at 0.08 or more, the adult penalties apply. See our Kentucky DUI penalties chart for every offense level.

Breathalyzer Refusal Consequences

Kentucky's implied consent law means that by driving on Kentucky roads, you have already consented to chemical testing. Refusing a breathalyzer or blood test triggers automatic consequences separate from any criminal penalties:

• Automatic license suspension
• Refusal can be used as evidence against you in court
• On a second or later offense, refusing a breath test is an aggravating factor that raises the mandatory jail time

Enhanced Penalty Factors

Kentucky law identifies six aggravating factors that significantly increase DUI penalties at every offense level:

• Excessive Speed — Driving 30+ mph over the speed limit while impaired
• Wrong Direction — Traveling the wrong way on a limited-access highway
• Injury or Death — Causing an accident resulting in serious injury or fatality
• High BAC — Blood alcohol concentration of 0.15% or higher
• Breath Test Refusal — Refusing a breath test (counts on a second or later offense, not a first)
• Child Passenger — Transporting a child under 12 years of age while impaired

How We Defend DUI Cases

Attorney Ashley Larmour scrutinizes every element of your DUI arrest, including the legality of the traffic stop, the administration of field sobriety tests, breathalyzer calibration and maintenance records, and proper procedure for blood draws. Errors in any of these areas can lead to reduced charges or dismissal. If you have just been arrested, our guide on what to do after a DUI arrest in Kentucky walks through the first 24 hours and the steps that protect your case. We defend DUI cases across Central Kentucky, including Lexington and Frankfort.