Title XVI, Motor Vehicles

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise: (1) "Motor vehicles" means all motor propelled vehicles, except electric and steam railways. (2) "Public highway" means every street, road or highway in this state.

process agent. Any nonresident operator or owner of any motor vehicle who accepts the privilege extended by the laws of this state to nonresidents to operate motor vehicles or have them operated within state shall, by such acceptance and by the operation of such motor vehicle wit…

The clerk of the court in which the action is brought shall issue a summons against the defendant named in the complaint and direct it to the sheriff of Franklin County. The sheriff shall execute the summons by delivering two (2) true copies to the Secretary of State and shall al…

The sheriff serving the summons upon the Secretary of State shall pay to him, at the time of service, a fee of ten dollars ($10), which shall be taxed as costs in the action. The Secretary shall keep a record of each summons, including the day and hour of service upon him.

The court in which the action is pending may order such continuances as may be necessary to afford the defendant reasonable opportunity to appear and defend the action.

This chapter extends the right of service of process upon nonresidents, and does not limit any other provisions for the service of process.

The provisions of KRS 188.010 to 188.060 shall apply to any operator or owner of any motor vehicle who is a resident of this state at the time any accident or collision or damage occurs and who thereafter becomes a nonresident.

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise: (1) "Alcohol concentration" means either grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood or grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath; (2) "Cabinet" means the Transportation Cabinet; (3) "Ignition interlock device" or …

of or above 0.02 for persons under age twenty-one, or while under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance, or other substance which impairs driving ability prohibited -- Admissibility of alcohol concentration or controlled substance test results -- Presumptions -- Penalt…

As used in this chapter: (1) "Department" means the Department of Highways; (2) "Crosswalk" means: (a) That part of a roadway at an intersection within the connections of the lateral lines of the sidewalks on opposite sides of the highway measured from the curbs or in the absence…

(1) As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them: (a) "Authorized emergency vehicle" shall mean any vehicle designated as such by KRS 189.910. (b) "Wrecker" shall mean a motor vehicle on which a wrecking crane and …

Every vehicle when on a highway shall be so equipped as to make a minimum of noise, smoke or other nuisance, to protect the rights of other traffic, and to promote the public safety.

All community labor shall be under the supervision of the court and subject to the following: (1) (a) No period of labor shall be less than four (4) hours to qualify for satisfaction of a sentence; (b) A "day" shall mean eight (8) hours of labor; (c) A "month" shall mean twenty (…

(1) Headlamps, when required on a vehicle, shall be illuminated: (a) During the period from one-half (1/2) hour after sunset to one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise; and (b) At such other times as atmospheric conditions render visibility as low as or lower than is ordinarily the ca…

(1) Terms of imprisonment for first and second offenders under KRS 189A.010 shall, at the order of the court, be served on weekends or such other times as may preserve the employment or education of the offender, provided that no individual period of incarceration shall be less t…

(1) Every motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle or moped, shall be equipped with at least two (2) headlamps with at least one (1) on each side of the front of the motor vehicle, which headlamps shall comply with the requirements and limitations set forth in this section. (2) Eve…

Sentencing offenders to programs -- Regulation of programs -- Medicaid- eligible defendants -- Appeals of decisions regarding licensure of education and treatment facilities and programs. (1) In addition to any other penalty prescribed by KRS 189A.010(5)(a) or (6), the court shal…

Notwithstanding any other provisions against the use of flashing lights, any vehicle may be equipped with lamps which may be used for the purpose of warning the operators of other vehicles of the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard requiring the exercise of unusual care in app…

programs -- Attendance -- Reporting and effect of failure to attend -- Reporting of completion of program. (1) (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection, when a court requires a defendant to enroll in an alcohol or substance abuse education or treatment program p…

No person shall install or maintain a red, yellow, green or similarly colored flashing light within one hundred (100) feet of the right-of-way of a state maintained highway for any purposes other than safety, highway construction, or emergency purposes.

revenue from fees collected. (1) All persons convicted of violation of KRS 189A.010(1)(a), (b), (c), (d), or (e) shall be sentenced to pay a service fee of four hundred twenty-five dollars ($425), which shall be in addition to all other penalties authorized by law. (2) The fee sh…

(1) All motor vehicles shall display at the rear two (2) red lights visible when lighted for at least five hundred (500) feet, unless the motor vehicle was originally equipped with only one (1) such light. (2) A person shall not operate any motor truck or semitrailer truck on any…

A person shall not operate any vehicle required by law to be licensed upon a highway unless it is equipped with a mechanical signal device which would indicate an intention to stop or suddenly decrease speed by illuminating at least two (2) red lights on the rear of the vehicle, …

unit. (1) Each vehicle towed by a towline shall display the lights required on vehicles of the class to which it belongs. (2) Each vehicle being hauled by another and connected to it in a manner that will keep them uniformly spaced shall carry at least one (1) light on the left s…

substance abuse treatment or education program required before reinstatement. (1) (a) 1. Unless the person is under eighteen (18) years of age, in addition to the penalties specified in KRS 189A.010, the Transportation Cabinet shall suspend a person's license to operate a motor v…

(1) A person shall not operate any commercial motor vehicle upon a highway outside of a business or residence district at any time from one-half (1/2) hour before sunset to one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise unless that vehicle carries the number and type of flares, electric lant…

Every motor vehicle, when in use on a highway, shall be equipped with a horn or other device capable of making an abrupt sound sufficiently loud to be heard from a distance of at least two hundred (200) feet under all ordinary traffic conditions. Every person operating an automob…

Hardship exception for affected individuals other than offender. (1) Unless a person has been issued an ignition interlock license under KRS 189A.340 or a hardship license under KRS 189A.410, a person who has been convicted of an offense under KRS 189A.010 may have the license pl…

(1) No owner shall knowingly operate or permit to be operated on a highway a motor vehicle upon which the brakes are defective. (2) Every motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, when operated upon a highway shall be equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of and to …

influence prohibited -- Operating motor vehicle without ignition interlock license or hardship license prohibited -- Penalties. (1) No person shall operate or be in physical control of a motor vehicle or motorcycle while his or her license is suspended under this chapter, unless …

(1) On and after January 1, 1967, it shall be unlawful to sell, or to display for sale, any brake lining unless of a type which has been submitted to the secretary of the Transportation Cabinet for approval and for which a certificate of approval has been issued by the secretary …

No owner shall knowingly operate or permit to be operated on a highway a motor vehicle upon which the steering device is defective.

pursuits, traffic stops, and field sobriety tests -- Conditions of recording -- Use and destruction of recordings. (1) (a) Law enforcement agencies may administer preliminary breath tests using devices or equipment which will ensure an accurate determination of blood alcohol cont…

impair driving ability -- Test procedures -- Who may administer -- Personal testing. The following provisions shall apply to any person who operates or is in physical control of a motor vehicle or a vehicle that is not a motor vehicle in this Commonwealth: (1) He or she has given…

penalties under KRS Chapter 189A. (1) The only alcohol or substance testing that is subject to refusal or enhancement of penalties provided for in this chapter is: (a) Breath analysis testing by an instrument installed, tested, and maintained by the Commonwealth for that specific…

when tests requested -- Court-ordered testing -- Withdrawal of blood sample -- Right to consult attorney before submitting to tests -- Personal testing option. (1) A person's refusal to submit to tests under KRS 189A.103 shall result in suspension of his or her driving privilege …

Hearing on alleged refusal -- Time period for suspension -- Notice to Transportation Cabinet. (1) A person who refuses to submit to an alcohol concentration or substance test requested by an officer having reasonable grounds to believe that the person violated KRS 189A.010(1) sha…

KRS 189A.010. Any person who is arrested for a violation of KRS 189A.010 shall be detained in custody at least six (6) hours following his or her arrest.

wipers. (1) A windshield in a fixed and upright position, that is equipped with safety glazing as required by federal safety-glazing material standards, is required on every motor vehicle which is operated on the public highways, roads, and streets, except on a motorcycle or impl…

of blood alcohol concentration -- Record of charges and amendments. (1) When an alcohol concentration for a person twenty-one (21) years of age or older in a prosecution for violation of KRS 189A.010 is 0.08 or above, is 0.02 or above for a person under the age of twenty-one (21)…

(1) No person shall sell any new motor vehicle in this state nor shall any new motor vehicle be registered in this state unless the vehicle is equipped with safety glass wherever glass is used in the windshield, doors or windows. (2) As used in this section, "safety glass" means …

seats -- Exceptions. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, "motor vehicle" as used in this section means every vehicle designed to carry fifteen (15) or fewer passengers and used for the transportation of persons, but the term does not include: (a) Motorcycles; (b) Mo…

All law enforcement agencies in this state shall be prohibited from erecting roadblocks for the sole purpose of checking for violations of KRS 189.125.

(1) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, every motor vehicle shall be equipped with the following mirrors so located and adjusted as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway to the rear of the vehicle: (a) One (1) mirror mounted on the left side of the vehi…

Fines levied pursuant to this chapter shall be assessed in the manner required by KRS 534.020 (but in amounts consistent with this chapter) and the response to nonpayment of fines shall be governed by KRS 534.020 and 534.060. Effective:June 29, 2017

(1) Every motor vehicle with an internal-combustion, steam or air motor shall be equipped with a suitable and efficient muffler. No person while on a highway shall operate a motor vehicle with the muffler cut out or removed. No cutout shall be so arranged or connected as to permi…