A police officer may have taken you under arrest for a DUI offense. Here you will learn about the charge of driving under the influence, assessments, arrest, judgment, abuse program, and vehicle restrictions.
If you need to meet education or treatment requirements or get a certified assessment from a state-approved program, you may want to look for DUI services in Lexington to help your situation.
You may be under the influence and impaired because of the way your body has processed a quantity of alcohol, substances used for your pleasure, or drugs prescribed by a physician.
When impaired and operating a vehicle as an individual or a professional, you may threaten the safety of others and yourself, whether you operate the vehicle on land, water, or in the air.
Assessments
A police officer may assess your psychomotor impairments through field sobriety tests for muscle coordination and balance:
- Walk and turn: You walk heel to toe, with your eyes on your feet, your arms on your sides, and counting, and then turning.
- One-leg stand: You lift and hold one foot six inches in the air and count aloud while looking at your raised foot.
- Horizontal gaze nystagmus: Checks for involuntary jerking of your eyes as they follow the side-to-side motion of a pen flashlight.
Breathalyzers may detect blood alcohol levels and specific recreational drug use. And a blood test and a urinalysis may provide additional evidentiary support.
Arrest
If arrested for DUI, an officer will take you to a police station to be photographed, fingerprinted, and booked. You may stay in jail until you post bail or your arraignment date.
Your vehicle may be towed and impounded after the police perform an inventory of your belongings. Once released from jail, you may retrieve your car after paying the towing and storage fees.
Judgment
At your arraignment, you answer the charges against you in court with a plea of guilty or not guilty. You may need to be assessed by a mental health provider before your trial.
Your license may be revoked, suspended, or restricted if convicted. The judge may sentence you to jail, pay a fine, or probation with an alcohol or substance abuse education or treatment program.
Abuse Program
The judge may have sentenced you to complete a state-certified alcohol or substance abuse education or treatment program. In Kentucky, you need to attend this program in person. After you complete the program, there will be a certified assessment. If you cannot complete the program, you may be fined or given a jail sentence.
Restrictions
DUI convictions may cause higher-priced car insurance for less coverage. You may need to stay drug-free and sober and avoid specific venues as part of your probation.
Once your driving privileges are reinstated, you may need your car insurance agent to file an SR-22 or FR-44 certificate of financial responsibility with the Department of Motor Vehicles to prove you have purchased adequate car liability insurance as per your state’s requirements.
You may also need a vehicle ignition interlock device installed. Once installed, you need to breathe into the device’s breathalyzer and get a clear test result before the system permits you to turn on your car. This system keeps you from driving while intoxicated.