Three new Kentucky laws that took effect Wednesday, July 15, 2026, give local law enforcement expanded authority to enforce impaired driving and protect first responders on scene, along with new restrictions on how agencies use license plate readers.
The laws are part of 190 bills enacted by the 2026 Kentucky General Assembly. Here's what each means for drivers and bystanders in Florence, Union, Burlington, and Hebron.
Tougher impaired driving penalties
Senate Bill 66 adds fentanyl, clonazepam, and cyclobenzaprine to the list of drugs that can trigger a DUI conviction when detected in a driver's blood, according to reporting by Kentucky Today published Thursday, July 16. Before July 15, those substances were not specifically named in the state's impaired driving statute.
The bill also creates an immediate consequence for refusing a blood test: a driver's license suspension at the time of arraignment. A conviction brings a separate suspension from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. The cabinet must now maintain records of moving traffic convictions for 10 years, up from the previous five-year standard.
For Boone County residents, the practical change is straightforward. A driver pulled over on suspicion of impairment who refuses a blood draw will lose their license before a trial even begins.
25-foot safe zone around first responders
Senate Bill 104 establishes a 25-foot buffer around police officers, firefighters, and other first responders performing official duties. Anyone who stays inside that zone after receiving a verbal warning and intends to impede, threaten, or harass a first responder could face criminal charges.
The law applies to every traffic stop, crash scene, and fire call in Boone County. Bystanders who comply with an officer's or firefighter's initial request to step back face no penalty. Only those who refuse the warning and demonstrate intent to interfere are subject to charges.
License plate reader restrictions
House Bill 58 restricts automatic license plate readers to public safety purposes and criminal investigations. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet may also use them for toll and revenue collection. All data captured by the readers must be deleted after 90 days, with limited exceptions for active criminal cases.
The 90-day deletion rule is new. It sets a statewide floor for how long any agency, including the Florence Police Department and Boone County Sheriff's Office, can retain plate reader data.
What's not yet clear
The Florence Police Department and Boone County Sheriff's Office had not commented publicly on implementation of the new laws as of Thursday, July 17. How agencies will adjust training, field procedures, or plate reader retention policies remains to be seen.
The 90-day data deletion requirement under House Bill 58 takes effect immediately, meaning any plate reader data older than 90 days that does not fall under a criminal investigation exception must now be purged.
