DUI Reference Guide
Tennessee DUI Laws
Tennessee DUI Laws
A person is considered to be driving under the influence in Tennessee if they are operating an automobile on a public road, highway or other public area while under the influence of alcohol and or drugs. If a person’s driving is impaired from taking prescription narcotics and they are driving, they can also be arrested for DUI. Individuals who are found to have a blood alcohol content at or exceed 0.08% will also be arrested for DUI.
The fourth time a person is convicted of a DUI, they will be charged with a felony. However, penalties for any number of offenses can be severe. Driving under the influence is a serious crime and with it carries serious consequences. Anyone arrested for a DUI will receive fines and jail time. They can also be mandated to provide community service. Probation periods also exist after a person is released from jail. Everyone is required to be evaluated for any drug or alcohol problems. A $100 fee is associated with this evaluation. Anyone with two offenses or more can be required to receive treatment for any problems.
First time DUI offenders will be fined $350-$1500 between their fines and fees they incur for court and other related expenses. Their license will be suspended for one year. A person is often able to receive restricted driving privileges (such as to work) during their suspension. In some cases a license will not be reinstated until a person completed a DUI education program. They will spend at least 48 hours in jail with a minimum of seven days for anyone with a BAC at or exceeding 0.20%.
Second time DUI offenders in Tennessee will see at least 45 days in jail. License suspension lasts two years this time. Once again a restricted license might be available. However, these rights will definitely not be granted for the first year of the license suspension. Fines ranges from $600-$3500. Ignition interlock system installation can be required. In some cases a person might also have their automobile forfeited to the government.
Third time offenders can be sentenced to anywhere from 120 days in jail to 11 months and 29 days. Fines can be very high ranging from $1100-$10,000. License suspensions can be as much as ten years with a three-year minimum. A person will probably be required to have an ignition interlock system on their car when they do regain driving rights. No restricted license is allowed during the suspension.
Fourth time offenders will be charged with a felony. This can result in up to six years in jail with at least a 150-day sentence. Fines can be as high as $15,000. A typically minimum is $3000. A fourth time offender will lose their license for at least five years.
They too will probably be required to install an ignition interlock system on their vehicle when they are permitted to drive again.
When facing DUI charges there are two ways that a person can be found guilty. If their BAC was at or above 0.08%, they can be convicted. The second way is through the testimony and evidence of the court. If there is enough testimony by an arresting officer to show that the person was driving a vehicle in public area or highway while impaired from by drugs or alcohol, person can also be convicted. These are very serious charges for an individual as they face serious consequences if found guilty of DUI during their court case.
Anyone arrested for DUI in Tennessee should seek the help of a lawyer who specialize in DUI law. They can help a person to work to create doubt as to whether or not they were driving while impaired. If they were arrested due to a high BAC, the attorney can attempt to show that the test might in some way have been invalid or not have been a measure of the person’s blood alcohol content when they were driving. Search for lawyers who concentrate mainly on DUI cases rather than general attorneys who handle just about any type of case. They are likely to be less experienced in this area of the law.
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