Were you pulled over on your way home from work, a concert, a night out with friends, or after a local sporting event? If you have been charged with a DUI in Jefferson, Bullitt, Hardin, Spencer, Shelby, or Oldham counties, don’t panic. My name is John Schmidt, and as an experienced DUI lawyer based in Shepherdsville, I can help answer your questions, protect your rights, and defend you against any first-time or subsequent DUI charge.
Our law enforcement officers and prosecutors take DUI cases very seriously in the greater Louisville area and throughout Kentucky. When a police officer has developed the reasonable suspicion to believe you are driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they can administer Field Sobriety Tests (FSTs) initially created by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and reviewed and approved by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). The FSTs are used by police at an appropriate traffic stop to assist in determining whether an individual may be impaired. The FSTs are not perfect or “scientifically proven as factual.” Still, they are generally accepted as evidence in our courts as long as law enforcement officers observe all standards associated with these encounters.
Once an officer has established a reasonable belief that you may be operating your vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, they will usually ask you to submit to a hand-held breathalyzer test or, ultimately, a blood test or a urine test. Kentucky law establishes “implied consent” for our drivers, and the failure to agree to testing will result in a potential suspension of your driver’s license. However, it may be in your interest not to provide additional evidence, especially if you have had multiple recent drinks or drugs and are certain to provide a high test result (above .15% Blood Alcohol Content or BAC).
A DUI is often referred to as the “$10,000 ride home.” If you are charged with a DUI in Kentucky, the penalties are significant, even on a first offense. If this is your second or more DUI within ten years, you are facing substantial criminal penalties, including heavy fines and the genuine risk of significant jail time. When “aggravating circumstances” exist, such as driving more than 30 mph over the speed limit, transporting a child under the age of 12, an accident resulting in serious injury or death, or refusing to submit to testing, jail time and associated penalties are significantly increased.
If you have been charged with a DUI in Shepherdsville, Mount Washington, Shelbyville, Taylorsville, Radcliff, Elizabethtown, Jeffersontown, or Louisville, Kentucky, you are going to need an experienced, proven DUI and criminal defense attorney. We invite you to contact us via e-mail, schedule an appointment or call us today at (502) 509-1490 to get the advice and aggressive criminal defense you need and deserve. At the Law Offices of John Schmidt & Associates we bring more than 25 years of experience to your side of the equation, manage the situation you face and the allegations against you, and work hard to achieve a much better outcome in your case than you can or will accomplish on your own.
