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KENTUCKY FIELD FILE

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About this guide — education built from the Kentucky Revised Statutes as the Legislative Research Commission publishes them, not a law degree in a webpage. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Kentucky attorney or a legal aid office. Current as of October 2026.

A licensee has the license in immediate possession at all times when driving, and displays it on demand to a peace officer.
It is a defense to that charge to produce in court a license issued before the arrest and valid at the time of it.

KRS 186.510

A driver asked by an officer for a license who fails to display it may have that failure admitted in court as prima facie proof of driving without a license; presenting to the court a license valid on the date of the charge is a defense.

KRS 186.620

The Fourth Amendment sets limits on every stop, and the Supreme Court of the United States has drawn several of them. It has held that a stop is reasonable where the officer has probable cause to believe a traffic violation occurred, whatever the officer's actual motive; that an officer making a lawful stop may order the driver, and the passengers, out of the vehicle; that a passenger is seized by the stop and may challenge it; and that a stop may last no longer than its purpose requires, so it may not be extended for a dog sniff without separate reasonable suspicion. It has also held that consent to a search has to be voluntary, judged on all the circumstances, and that the prosecution does not have to prove the person knew they could refuse. Those holdings are a floor: a state's own constitution and statutes can give more protection than they do, never less.

Sources for this section (8)

KRS 186.510 — License to be in possession and to be shown on demand
KRS 186.620 — Unlawful to drive or permit another to drive without license -- Display of license on request of peace officer -- Defense
Whren v. United States, 517 U.S. 806 (1996) — A traffic stop is reasonable when there is probable cause of a traffic violation
Pennsylvania v. Mimms, 434 U.S. 106 (1977) — An officer may order the driver out of a lawfully stopped car
Maryland v. Wilson, 519 U.S. 408 (1997) — An officer may order passengers out of a lawfully stopped car
Brendlin v. California, 551 U.S. 249 (2007) — A passenger is seized by a traffic stop and may challenge it
Rodriguez v. United States, 575 U.S. 348 (2015) — A stop may not be extended beyond its purpose to run a dog sniff
Schneckloth v. Bustamonte, 412 U.S. 218 (1973) — Consent to a search must be voluntary

Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Kentucky attorney.

KENTUCKY FIELD FILE

Traffic stops

Being stopped

Marijuana and drugs

Impaired driving

Court and money

Your home

Recording

Carrying a firearm

Charges and penalties

How you carry yourself

Walk it through

KENTUCKY FIELD FILE

Traffic stops

Traffic StopsKRS 186.510 — the license in immediate possession, shown on demand▾

Driving Without a LicenseKRS 186.620 — no driving while a license is denied, suspended or revoked, or never applied for▾

The Learner's PermitKRS 186.450 — a permit at fifteen, and an intermediate license after 180 days and 60 hours of practice▾

Your Phone Behind the WheelKRS 189.292 — no texting while moving, and no phone at all for a driver under eighteen▾

Careless and Reckless DrivingKRS 189.290 — driving in a careful manner, with regard for the safety of others▾

Lanes and PassingKRS 189.300 — keep right, slower traffic to the right edge, and three feet past a bicycle▾

Turn SignalsKRS 189.380 — a signal for the last 100 feet before a turn or a lane change▾

Speed LimitsKRS 189.390 — 65 on interstates and parkways, 55 on other state highways, 35 in town▾

Passing a School BusKRS 189.370 — a stop from any direction while the stop arm and red lights are out▾

After a CrashKRS 189.580 — stop, help anyone hurt, and give a name, address and insurance on request▾

Pedestrians in the RoadKRS 189.570 — yielding to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, and no passing a car stopped for one▾

Seat Belts and Car SeatsKRS 189.125 — every occupant belted, a car seat at 40 inches or less, a booster to 57 inches▾

Stop Signs and Right of WayKRS 189.330 — the vehicle on the left yields, and a full stop at the line▾

Pulling Over for a SirenKRS 189.930 — to the edge and stopped for lights or a siren, and a lane over for one on the shoulder▾

Window TintKRS 189.110 — nothing on the windshield but a strip at the top, or a film letting through 70 percent▾

Riding a MotorcycleKRS 189.285 — eye protection for every rider, and a helmet under 21 or on a permit▾

Railroad CrossingsKRS 189.560 — a stop for a signal, a lowered gate, a train in sight, or a flagger▾

Fleeing the PoliceKRS 520.100 — driving on after a recognized officer's direction to stop is a Class D felony▾

Being stopped

Being ArrestedKRS 431.025 — told of the intention to arrest and the offense, with no unnecessary force▾

A Citation Instead of ArrestKRS 431.015 — a citation for a misdemeanor in the officer's presence, with listed exceptions▾

When Police Come to the HouseKRS 431.005 — an arrest on probable cause of an injury to a family or household member▾

Resisting ArrestKRS 520.090 — force, threats or a risk of injury to keep an officer from an arrest, a Class A misdemeanor▾

Marijuana and drugs

Drug PossessionKRS 218A.1415 — first degree possession is a Class D felony capped at three years▾

MarijuanaKRS 218A.1422 — possession is a Class B misdemeanor with no more than 45 days in jail▾

Drug ParaphernaliaKRS 218A.500 — a Class A misdemeanor, and no charge for a needle declared before a search▾

Calling for Help in an OverdoseKRS 218A.133 — no possession or paraphernalia charge for seeking help in good faith▾

Property Seized in a Drug CaseKRS 218A.410 — what is subject to forfeiture, and the owner who did not know▾

Public IntoxicationKRS 222.202 — drunk in public to the point of danger or annoyance, and drinking in a public place▾

Underage DrinkingKRS 244.085 — a person under twenty one may not buy, possess for personal use, or try to buy alcohol▾

A Fake IDKRS 244.085 — using false identification to get alcohol is a violation, then a misdemeanor▾

Buying Alcohol for a MinorKRS 530.070 — giving or buying alcohol for a minor is a Class A misdemeanor▾

Impaired driving

DUI PenaltiesKRS 189A.010 — 0.08, or under the influence; 0.02 under twenty-one; jail and fines rising over ten years▾

The DUI StopKRS 189A.103 — consent to a test is implied, and refusing brings a suspension at arraignment▾

A Suspension Before TrialKRS 189A.200 — the court suspends at arraignment after a refusal, a prior offense, or a serious crash▾

The Ignition Interlock LicenseKRS 189A.340 — the license a person can apply for at any time after a DUI suspension▾

Refusing the TestKRS 189A.105 — a refusal suspends the license, and a breath refusal can be used in court▾

A Hardship LicenseKRS 189A.410 — limited driving for work, school, medical care or treatment, from the sentencing court▾

Court and money

Getting PaidKRS 337.020 — at least twice a month, for wages earned up to 18 days before payday▾

The Last PaycheckKRS 337.055 — by the next pay period or 14 days after leaving, whichever is later▾

Deductions from PayKRS 337.060 — no fines, shared till shortages, breakage or unsigned losses taken out of wages▾

Minimum Wage and OvertimeKRS 337.275 — $7.25 an hour, and time and a half after 40 hours in a week▾

Breaks at WorkKRS 337.365 — ten minutes paid for every four hours, and a lunch between the third and fifth hour▾

Working Under EighteenKRS 339.220 — no work under fourteen, and no school hours under sixteen▾

Hurt at WorkKRS 342.185 — notice as soon as practicable, and a claim within two years of the accident▾

Unemployment After a Job EndsKRS 341.370 — quitting without good cause or a misconduct firing disqualifies, and 30 days to appeal▾

Discrimination at WorkKRS 344.040 — no firing or refusing to hire for race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age forty and over, or disability▾

Jury Duty and the JobKRS 29A.160 — no firing or threats for a jury summons, and 90 days to sue▾

Time Off to VoteKRS 118.035 — at least four hours to vote, applied for the day before, and no penalty if the vote is cast▾

Reporting Wrongdoing in Public WorkKRS 61.102 — no reprisal against a public employee who reports a violation in good faith▾

Service in Public PlacesKRS 344.120 — no denying full and equal service for disability, race, color, religion or national origin▾

Getting DivorcedKRS 403.170 — a marriage irretrievably broken, and no decree until the spouses have lived apart 60 days▾

Dividing Property in a DivorceKRS 403.190 — each spouse keeps their own property, and marital property is divided in just proportions▾

Spousal SupportKRS 403.200 — maintenance only for a spouse who lacks property for reasonable needs and cannot support themselves▾

Custody and Parenting TimeKRS 403.270 — a presumption that joint custody and equal parenting time are in the child's best interests▾

Child SupportKRS 403.213 — a change of 15 percent or more under the guidelines is presumed a material change▾

A Protective OrderKRS 403.730 — an emergency order the day of filing, and a hearing within 14 days▾

A Protective Order for Dating Violence or StalkingKRS 456.030 — an interpersonal protective order for dating violence, stalking or sexual assault▾

Breaking a Protective OrderKRS 403.763 — a Class A misdemeanor, and a felony on a third violation with force or threats▾

Changing a NameKRS 401.010 — an adult changes their name through the District Court of their county▾

Marrying Under EighteenKRS 402.020 — a marriage with a person under eighteen is prohibited and void, except as KRS 402.210 allows▾

Grandparent VisitationKRS 405.021 — the Circuit Court may grant grandparents reasonable visitation in the child's best interest▾

Dying Without a WillKRS 391.010 — the spouse, then children, then parents, then brothers and sisters, in that order▾

A Spouse and the WillKRS 392.080 — a surviving spouse may renounce the will within six months of probate and take a statutory share▾

Signing a WillKRS 394.040 — in writing, signed, and unless wholly handwritten, witnessed by two▾

Revoking a WillKRS 394.080 — a later will, a signed writing, or destroying it with intent, and no other way▾

A Living WillKRS 311.625 — signed, dated, and witnessed by two adults or acknowledged before a notary▾

Signing Over AuthorityKRS 457.050 — a power of attorney signed by the principal, and presumed genuine when notarized▾

A Small EstateKRS 395.455 — when the spouse's exemption covers everything, administration can be dispensed with▾

Getting Public RecordsKRS 61.880 — an agency answers a records request in writing within five days, weekends and holidays excepted▾

When a Records Request Is DeniedKRS 61.880 — the Attorney General decides within 20 days, and either side has 30 days to go to court▾

Open MeetingsKRS 61.810 — every meeting of a quorum where public business is discussed is open, with listed exceptions▾

Registering to VoteKRS 116.045 — registration closes the fourth Tuesday before a primary or general election▾

Unfair and Deceptive PracticesKRS 367.170 — unfair, false, misleading or deceptive acts in trade are unlawful▾

A Sale at the DoorKRS 367.420 — until midnight of the third business day to cancel a home solicitation sale▾