Recent Posts in DUI Category

Aggravated DUI in Tennessee

In Tennessee, a first-time DUI is a misdemeanor, punishable by a jail sentence ranging from 48 hours to 11 months and 29 days, a fine of up to $1,500, and driver’s license revocation for one year. However, if certain aggravating factors exist, then a first offense can result in harsher criminal penalties or even a felony charge. The following are common examples of aggravated DUI in Tennessee: ...

What Happens If a Refuse a Breath Test After a TN DUI Arrest?

After being arrested for suspected DUI in Tennessee, a police officer will request the driver to submit to a chemical test (e.g., breath, blood, or urine test) to determine the amount of alcohol or drugs in the driver’s system. But what happens if the driver refuses to take a test? Implied Consent in Tennessee According to Tennessee’s implied consent law, any person who drives a vehicle in the ...

Tennessee Commercial DUI Laws

From semi-trucks and tractor-trailers transporting precious cargo to passenger buses carrying dozens of passengers, operating these vehicles require a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Since CDL holders drive large vehicles for a living, they are held to a stricter standard in comparison to non-commercial drivers, especially when it comes to drunk or drugged driving. A CDL holder can be charged ...

Tennessee Underage DUI Laws

In Tennessee and throughout the United States, many high school and college students engage in underage drinking. However, such activity often leads to drunk driving. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that one in 10 teenagers in high school drinks and drives. Additionally, young drivers between the ages of 16 and 20 are 17 times more likely to die in a car accident when ...

How Long Does a DUI Conviction Stay on Your Record?

If you’ve been arrested and need to begin fighting a DUI charge, you need to know what to expect if you end up with a DUI conviction in Tennessee. Did you know that a DUI conviction can stay with you for life? With such serious consequences at stake, you need to be sure you do everything possible to fight a DUI charge. Hiring a seasoned DUI lawyer is vital to your ability to mount the strongest ...

Everything You Need to Know About Tennessee DUI Laws

Driving under the influence is a serious charge, and if you are arrested on a DUI charge in Tennessee, there are serious consequences. DUI charges can be quite severe if you’ve had previous DUI charges. A police officer can stop you if they have reason to believe you’ve been driving under the influence. When convicted of a DUI, you could face fines, licensed suspension, and jail time. Tennessee ...

How Does an Ignition Interlock Device Work?

Ignition interlock devices (IIDs), also known as breathalyzers, are frequently installed in the vehicles of those charged with DUIs as an effort to reduce any further drunk driving offenses. While all 50 states have some sort of ignition interlock device protocol in place, Tennessee is one of 34 states where everyone convicted of driving while intoxicated must install an IID in their car. How it ...

Can I Get Fired for Getting a DUI?

Understanding the Extent to Which a DUI Conviction Can Affect Your Life Drunk driving convictions carry hefty fines, lengthy jail sentences, and suspension of one’s driver’s license. Beyond the criminal penalties one could face, a DUI conviction has the potential to affect many aspects of one’s life, potentially even their employment status. Tennessee Employment Laws As Tennessee is an employment ...

How Long Does a DUI Charge Stay on My Record?

Understanding the Severity and Permanence of Tennessee DUIs DUIs are major offenses in every state with the severity of punishments reflecting the seriousness of the crime. While many of the punishments are geared towards correcting behavior, such as by necessitating participation in driving safety courses, the conviction leaves a lasting stain on a Tennessee criminal record. Luckily, in some ...

Could I Be Accused of a DUI for Using Legal Substances?

We all know that driving drunk is both highly dangerous and highly illegal. Driving while under the influence of illegal drugs is just as problematic. What is less often discussed is the fact that even legal substances could result in a DUI arrest. Driving under the influence of drugs is often called a “DUID” charge. If you are high on cocaine, heroin, meth, or even marijuana, you could be accused ...

Do I Have to Take a Breathalyzer Test?

In Tennessee, over 8,000 people were arrested on charges of driving under the influence (DUI) during the year 2014. There are a number of tests a law enforcement officer may administer if you are suspected of drunk driving, including field sobriety tests and a breathalyzer test. Up until the moment of your arrest, however, they are generally considered voluntary. That said, even if you refuse to ...

Penalties for Weapons Charges in Tennessee

The right to bear arms is protected, but it does not mean everyone can carry one or that anyone can bring a weapon wherever they wish. The state of Tennessee has several requirements for gun-carry permits and, if you violate state law and carry a gun under illegal circumstances, there are a number of potential penalties. Continue reading to learn more. Gun-Carry Violations in Tennessee In ...

Common DUI Defense Strategies

If you are facing DUI charges, we understand how overwhelming and stressful this situation is for you. Oftentimes, people assume that they have no chance of defeating these charges, but this is far from the truth. With an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side, you can mount an effective defense to protect your rights and future. Defending Yourself Against a DUI A DUI charge is not a ...

Do I Have to Take a Field Sobriety Test?

Getting pulled over for suspicion of drinking and driving is an overwhelming situation to find yourself in and it is crucial to know your rights. The officer who pulls you over may begin by asking you a series of questions and, at some point, you may be asked to step outside of your vehicle to take a field sobriety test. How you handle this situation can potentially harm or help your case, so ...

What Are My Rights at a DUI Checkpoint?

DUI checkpoints were designed to protect drivers and pedestrians from impaired drivers. Although police officers must have probable cause to pull over a motorist, this is not necessary at a DUI checkpoint. That said, there are some requirements law enforcement must fulfill for a checkpoint to be valid. Law enforcement must announce a DUI checkpoint about a week in advance. Generally, this ...

What Happens if You Are Charged with DUI More than Once?

Driving under the influence (DUI) is an illegal offense that relies on many factors to determine the legal consequences. One factor the courts consider is how many times a person has committed the same offense in the past. BAC Limit In Tennessee, the BAC of a driver must not exceed .08. If a person’s BAC is .20 or more, they can face enhanced penalties. For people under the legal drinking age, a ...

What Are the Penalties for a DUI in Tennessee?

The state of Tennessee prohibits motorists from operating a vehicle if they: have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of at least .08%; or are under the influence of any intoxicant, marijuana, controlled substance, drug, or substance that affects the central nervous system. To be under the influence of a substance is to be impaired to the point of inability to safely operate a motor vehicle. If you are ...

Senate Bill 683 Targets Repeat DUI Offenders

In Tennessee, it’s illegal for driver to operate a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration level at or above 0.08%. While existing laws and sobriety checkpoints save countless lives each year, it doesn’t change the fact that Tennessee has an ongoing problem with repeat DUI offenders. According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation , there are nearly 30,000 DUI arrests reported on an annual ...

Potential Consequences: What If This Isn’t My First DUI?

DUI charges are extremely serious and can have a lasting impact on your personal and professional life. These types of convictions could wind up hurting your job prospects, damaging your relationships with family and friends, and may even cost you your freedom. If you are facing charges for a repeat DUI offense , make sure you know what you’re up against. Understanding the Penalties In Tennessee, ...

What Are the Penalties for a DUI in Tennessee?

If you were arrested for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol in Tennessee, you could face serious repercussions. However, the way in which you handle your situation from here forward will determine how severe the repercussions will be. In the state of Tennessee, if an officer has cause to believe you have been driving while drunk, you could be arrested on DUI charges. If convicted, ...

A Guide to DUI Checkpoints in Tennessee

The DUI checkpoint- coming across one of these during a late night drive can be nerve-wracking, even if you have not had any alcohol that night. People rarely expect to run into one of these stops, and because they do not know their rights, they sometimes agree to tests or searches that they did not have to submit to. After the experience is over, many people wonder if the stop was even legal to ...

Challenging a DUI Charge: Why You Need an Attorney

Oftentimes, when someone faces a DUI charge, resignation to defeat is generally the immediate response. Most people are unaware that DUI charges are often successfully challenged and there is no reason to accept a punishment that is not deserved. After all, a DUI conviction stays on your record and can continue to impact your life for years to come. With so much at stake, it is in your best ...

Labor Day Weekend DUIs

Labor Day weekend is almost upon us, bringing the summer season to a close with one last celebration. Many of us are likely looking forward to the long weekend, hoping to party and have a good time with friends and family, but it is important to be careful since this is also one of the most dangerous times to hit the road. In fact, according to a Tennessee Highway Patrol Announcement, the THP put ...

DUI with Drugs: What You Need To Know

If you were arrested for a DUI, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you need to take immediate action to protect your rights and your future. DUI charges are extremely serious, and if you are convicted, you could wind up dealing with severe, lasting repercussions. Most people associate DUI charges with alcohol consumption, but drivers can also be charged for driving while under the ...

What They Don't Tell You About Field Sobriety Tests

A field sobriety test consists of physical tasks that the person suspected of DUI will need to perform to prove that they are able to safely drive their vehicle. Field sobriety tests usually include making a person walk in a straight line or having them touch the tip of their finger to their nose while standing on one leg. Reciting the alphabet backwards is also another common field sobriety test. ...