Experienced Kentucky Driver’s License Suspension Attorneys
A driving under the influence (DUI) arrest can put your driver’s license at risk and make everyday life harder. You may worry about getting to work, taking your children to school, attending appointments or handling other family responsibilities. Knowing what may happen to your driving privileges can help you plan your next steps.
At Hitch Defense Attorneys, we provide DUI defense for clients in Louisville and throughout Kentucky. We can review the circumstances of your arrest, explain how a license suspension may affect you and help you understand your options. Our goal is to give you clear information about the DUI charges and license issues you may face.
Could Your Driver’s License Be Suspended Pending Trial?
Your driver’s license isn’t lost the moment you are booked for a Kentucky DUI, but state law allows for rapid pre-trial suspensions long before a final verdict. A judge might impose this suspension when:
- You have a prior DUI conviction within the 10-year lookback period
- You refused a breath, blood or urine test
- The arrest involved a crash causing serious physical injury or death
Chemical test refusals warrant careful consideration. Refusing a test triggers a mandatory pretrial suspension. However, drivers facing a refusal suspension may still apply for driving relief through the state’s ignition interlock options.
How Long Might A DUI License Suspension Last?
If a case results in a conviction, suspension length generally depends on how many prior DUI convictions exist within the 10-year lookback window:
| DUI Offense Level | Standard Suspension Duration | Ignition Interlock Eligible? |
| 1st Offense | 6 Months (May be reduced to 4 months with KIIP compliance) | Yes |
| 2nd Offense | 12 to 18 Months | Yes |
| 3rd Offense | 24 to 36 Months | Yes |
| 4th Offense (Felony) | 60 Months or 5 Years | Yes |
Each successive DUI offense increases the suspension timeframe, and prosecutors charge a fourth offense as a felony. Reviewing every detail—from the initial traffic stop to testing procedures—can be a critical part of building a defense strategy.
What Options Might Allow You To Keep Driving?
Eligible drivers may participate in the Kentucky Ignition Interlock Program (KIIP). This program allows drivers to install an approved ignition interlock device (IID) and obtain an interlock license, which provides driving privileges without specific route or time limitations. Using an IID may reduce the overall suspension period, such as reducing a six-month suspension for a first offense to four months after 90 consecutive violation-free days.
In contrast, traditional hardship licenses historically restricted driving to specific, essential locations such as work, school, medical care or court-ordered programs. Under current Kentucky law, the ignition interlock program has largely replaced traditional hardship licenses for most DUI offenses. Discussing these options with our attorney can help clarify which pathway applies to your legal situation.
Contact Hitch Defense Attorneys To Discuss Your License Case
You do not have to handle a license suspension alone. Our attorneys, Tyler Hitch and Samina Hitch, bring over 25 years of combined DUI defense experience to every case. We prepare each case with trial readiness in mind from day one. Call our Kentucky office at Call or reach out online to schedule a consultation about your driver’s license suspension.