Ky. Rev. Stat. » Chapter 189
Kentucky Revised Statutes

Ky. Rev. Stat. § 189.430 (2026)

Coasting prohibited -- Unattended vehicle

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) The driver of a motor vehicle when traveling upon a down grade shall not coast with the gears of the vehicle in neutral. (2) The driver of a commercial motor vehicle when traveling upon a down grade shall not coast with the clutch disengaged. (3) No person operating or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition and removing the key, nor allow it to stand upon any perceptible grade without effectively setting the brake and turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the highway. Effective: October 1, 1942 History: Recodified 1942 Ky. Acts ch. 208, sec. 1, effective October 1, 1942, from Ky. Stat. sec. 2739g-69i.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1950–2025 · leading case: Pile v. City of Brandenburg, 215 S.W.3d 36 (Ky. 2007).
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Pile v. City of Brandenburg, 215 S.W.3d 36 (Ky. 2007). · cites it 6× “" KRS 189.430, provides in pertinent part that "no person operating or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition and removing the key.”
Sand Hill Energy, Inc. v. Ford Motor Co., 83 S.W.3d 483 (Ky. 2002). · cites it 2× “090(3)(e); and that there was no contributory fault on the part of Smith for permitting the vehicle to stand unattended with the engine running, but see KRS 189.430(3). The Smith estate had no motive to place any blame on Sand Hill because it was precluded by KRS 342.”
Bruck v. Thompson, 131 S.W.3d 764 (Ky. Ct. App. 2004). “5 While KRS 189.430(3) (sometimes referred to as the “key-in-ignition” statute) prohibits a motor vehicle operator from leaving the motor vehicle unattended without locking the ignition and removing the key, our highest court has concluded that this statute is a “part of the…”
Lewis v. Wolk, 228 S.W.2d 432 (Ky. Ct. App. 1950). “KRS 189.430(3) provides as follows: “No person operating or in charge of a motor vehicle shall * * * allow it to stand upon any perceptible grade without effectively setting the brake and turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the highway.”
Estridge v. Estridge, 333 S.W.2d 758 (Ky. Ct. App. 1960). “We have a statute, KRS 189.430 (3), which declares that no person operating or in charge of a motor vehicle shall allow it “to stand upon any perceptible grade without effectively setting the brake *760 and turning the front wheels to the curb' or side of the highway.”
Frank v. Ralston, 145 F. Supp. 294 (W.D. Ky. 1956). “A statute of the State of Kentucky, KRS 189.430, and an ordinance of the City of Louisville, 18-7h(l), both make it unlawful for any person operating or in charge of a motor vehicle to permit it to stand unattended without locking the ignition and removing the key.”
Tyler Butler v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. Ct. App. 2024). “Following an altercation, the officers arrested 2 The circuit court concluded the officers had a reasonable suspicion as to a violation of KRS 189.430(3), which states: “No person operating or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first…”
Bryan Tyler Boerste v. Michael Cotton (Ky. Ct. App. 2025). “In Pile, the police officer violated KRS 189.430 by failing to stop the engine, lock the ignition, and remove the key before he exited the cruiser.”
J. Chris Lane v. Kentucky Dep't of Corr. (Ky. Ct. App. 2025). “In particular, KRS 189.430 requires that before leaving a vehicle unattended, an officer must stop the engine, lock the ignition, and remove the key.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 189.430(3) — 5 cases
Pile v. City of Brandenburg, 215 S.W.3d 36 (Ky. 2007). “" KRS 189.430, provides in pertinent part that "no person operating or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition and removing the key.”
Sand Hill Energy, Inc. v. Ford Motor Co., 83 S.W.3d 483 (Ky. 2002). “090(3)(e); and that there was no contributory fault on the part of Smith for permitting the vehicle to stand unattended with the engine running, but see KRS 189.430(3). The Smith estate had no motive to place any blame on Sand Hill because it was precluded by KRS 342.”
Bruck v. Thompson, 131 S.W.3d 764 (Ky. Ct. App. 2004). “5 While KRS 189.430(3) (sometimes referred to as the “key-in-ignition” statute) prohibits a motor vehicle operator from leaving the motor vehicle unattended without locking the ignition and removing the key, our highest court has concluded that this statute is a “part of the…”
Lewis v. Wolk, 228 S.W.2d 432 (Ky. Ct. App. 1950). “KRS 189.430(3) provides as follows: “No person operating or in charge of a motor vehicle shall * * * allow it to stand upon any perceptible grade without effectively setting the brake and turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the highway.”
Tyler Butler v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. Ct. App. 2024). “Following an altercation, the officers arrested 2 The circuit court concluded the officers had a reasonable suspicion as to a violation of KRS 189.430(3), which states: “No person operating or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first…”
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