Kentucky State Police Readying for Holiday DUIs

 ”Spiked Egg Nog” and other alcoholic beverages are part of the holiday season tradition. But one too many of these drinks can cause deadly results on the highways.

Nearly 40% of all accidents that will take place on the roads over the next three weeks will be the result of drunk drivers. But the Kentucky State Police are hoping their presence on the roads will keep potential killers off the road.”

http://www.wbko.com/news/headlines/35941934.html

McCreary County Coroner’s License Suspended

“SOMERSET — McCreary County Coroner Brandon New has lost his driver’s license fol-lowing arraignment in Pulaski District Court last week.

New, 26, pled not guilty to first-offense DUI, first- and third-degree possession of con-trolled substances, possession of drug paraphernalia, and prescription not in proper container. The charges stem from his November 29 arrest on Blue John Road when he was discovered unconscious in a county-owned Chevrolet Suburban.’
http://www.mccrearyrecord.com/local/local_story_351123534.html

Holidays can lead to increased DUI numbers

“HARDIN COUNTY – Statistics show the frequency of summertime drunken driving arrests and incidents surpasses that around the holidays, but police still are warning partiers and motorists to use their heads when going to, and returning from, Christmas and New Year’s Eve get-togethers.

With alcohol accessibility at many holiday parties and family celebrations, Kentucky State Police Sgt. Tom Walsh said patrol officers often hear a similar response from motorists stopped for a sobriety check.

“They’ll say they had a few,” Walsh said. “When I hear, ‘a few,’ that usually means they’ve had more than three.”

http://www.thenewsenterprise.com/cgi-bin/c2.cgi?053+article+News.Local+20081215133507053003

Kentucky may change DUI laws in 2009

“Senator Ray S. Jones, II wants lawmakers in Kentucky to consider amending KRS 189A.010 to establish a per se violation of the DUI statute if the driver has at least a certain amount of a controlled substance in the blood; create a defense if the person took the controlled substance in compliance with a valid prescription; reduce the required alcohol concentration for an aggravating circumstance from 0.18 to 0.15; and amend KRS 189A.105 to lower the alcohol percentage from 0.18 to 0.15 for increased penalties.”

http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/09RS/SB9.htm