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The attorneys of Aldridge & Birdwhistell Law Firm, PSC

Protecting Your Driver’s License And Your Reputation After A DUI Arrest

The U.S. Constitution protects drivers from unreasonable searches and seizures. A search occurs whenever a police officer examines your person, possessions, vehicle or home to obtain information. A search may be conducted only if an officer reasonably expects to find evidence of a crime. In the case of a DUI, did the officer have sufficient grounds to stop your vehicle and administer sobriety tests?

With offices located in Elizabethtown and Louisville, Aldridge & Birdwhistell Law Firm, PSC knows how to pursue strategies to get the charges against you dropped or reduced. Our criminal defense lawyers will investigate your case and exploit any weakness in the police’s actions. We also provide strong and effective representation when it comes to negotiating with the Kentucky State Attorney’s office. We often obtain results that satisfy our clients.

Convictions for drinking and driving in Kentucky can result in severe criminal and administrative penalties. Your driver’s license is likely to be suspended, plus you may be required to pay a fine, perform community service, submit to alcohol counseling and/or spend time in jail.

Added Penalties Based On Aggravating Circumstances

The penalties become even more severe if aggravating conditions were present at the time of your arrest. Aggravating circumstances include:

  • Driving 30 mph over the speed limit
  • Transporting a child under the age of 12
  • Driving in the wrong direction on a limited-access highway
  • Causing a fatal or serious injury accident
  • Refusing a sobriety test
  • Having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .15% or higher two hours after operating the vehicle

Our attorneys may be able to help if your DUI charges are aggravated. We may be able to have the aggravating conditions dropped through negotiations with the prosecutor. We also have experience representing juvenile DUI offenders.

Answers To Your DUI Questions

Aldridge & Birdwhistell Law Firm, PSC commonly hears questions about DUI charges in Kentucky and what our attorneys may be able to do to help. We’d like to help by answering some of those questions here.

Do I Need A Lawyer For A DUI Case?

An experienced criminal defense attorney will know and be able to advise which of several strategic angles could result in the charges against you being dropped, defeated or reduced.

Our DUI defense attorneys will carefully investigate what happened in your case. If we discover any inappropriate actions on behalf of the police, we may be able to defeat the charges.

How Can I Fight The Charges?

The Constitution of the United States puts important limitations on the actions of police and other government officers. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution protects you from unreasonable searches and seizures. A search occurs whenever a police officer examines your person, possessions, vehicle or home to obtain information. A search may be conducted only if an officer reasonably expects to find evidence of a crime.

In the case of a DUI, we will investigate whether the officer had sufficient grounds to stop your vehicle and then administer sobriety tests.

What Happens If I Am Found Guilty?

A conviction for driving under the influence (DUI) has serious consequences in Kentucky. For many people, the hardest consequence is the suspension or revocation of your driver’s license.

Fines and jail time may also attach to a DUI conviction. The length and duration of the penalties become more severe if it is your second, third or fourth DUI conviction.

What Makes A DUI “Aggravated?”

You are charged with aggravated DUI if your episode entailed other undesirable conditions beyond driving while intoxicated. Aggravating circumstances include:

  • Driving 30 mph over the speed limit
  • Transporting a child under the age of 12
  • Driving in the wrong direction
  • Causing a fatal or serious accident
  • Refusing a sobriety test
  • Having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .18% or higher two hours after operating the vehicle

What Are The Consequences Of Aggravated DUI?

If aggravating conditions were present, then the consequences of a drunk driving conviction become more severe. The length of a jail term becomes significantly longer, as a court is likely to issue sentences toward the maximum range of allowable limits when aggravating circumstances are present.

It is important to retain representation if you are charged with aggravating conditions. We know how to fight the charges and may be able to get the aggravating conditions dropped.

Schedule A Free Consultation Now

Aldridge & Birdwhistell Law Firm, PSC is dedicated to providing quality defense services to residents of Hardin County and the surrounding community. Call 270-872-0912 in Elizabethtown or 502-907-2899 in Louisville for an appointment or send us a message online.