Dram Shop Expert

Litigation Support and Expert Witness Services
  • Uncategorized
  • Louisville man convicted of 7 DUI’s now charged with another

Louisville man convicted of 7 DUI’s now charged with another

Louisville man convicted of 7 DUI’s now charged with another

 

Source: WDRB

By Ryan Cummings

Mar 29, 2016

 

A Louisville man convicted of seven DUI’s in the past, is arrested again and charged for yet another DUI.

 

John Przybylek, 32, was arrested Monday night. But despite the stiff charges and his prior convictions, he’s already been released.

 

“The light was changing and then the gentleman behind me ran into the back of me,” said a woman who told WDRB she was hit by Przybylek at a traffic light.

 

Her bumper, nearly ripped off, is now being held onto her car with bungee cords.

 

Police say around 8 p.m. Monday on Hurstborne Parkway, Przybylek rear-ended someone, backed up, and then hit her car again before taking off.

 

“I thought he was gonna come and stop and help me but he left me,” said the woman.

 

An LMPD detective in the next lane witnessed what was happening.

 

The police report says the detective tried pulling Przybylek over at Bardstown Road and Hurstborne Parkway but he kept going even though the car was spewing fluids.

 

His vehicle became disabled at Fairground Road and police say they arrested him about 50 minutes later after he failed several field sobriety tests.

 

Przybylek’s arrest report says he blew a .14, nearly twice the legal limit, and that he’s been convicted of seven prior DUI’s – three of which have been in the last five years.

 

“It’s the most preventable crime there is. You can drink all you want, just don’t drive,” said Paul Richwalsky, director of the DUI unit in the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office.

 

According to the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, Przybylek was given five years probation after his fourth conviction.

 

Richwalsky says in Kentucky, depending on the lawyer, jury, or plea, the punishment can vary.

 

“When you get into the habitual offenders you know, the seconds and the thirds and the felons they don’t care. We see a lot of them they don’t have a driver’s license, they don’t care,” said Richwalsky.

 

The Brianna Taylor Act allows for stronger penalties in Kentucky for people like Przybylek.

 

The bill is named after the Hardin County 17-year-old killed in 2014 by a habitual DUI offender.

 

It’s already passed the house and senate and now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature.

 

“So if longer than five years ago you had a half dozen DUI’s, but they have “fallen off” then this one legally becomes your first, although it’s not your first, but as far as our purposes it’s a first,” said Richwalsky.

 

But to people like the driver hit by Przybylek, it doesn’t matter if it’s the 1st or 21st DUI.

 

“Do you have to wait until someone is severely hurt in order for the system to do something for you?”

 

Przybylek faces five charges including DUI, reckless driving and wanton endangerment.