DUI Penalties in Tennessee

 

No matter what state it occurs, driving under the influence (DUI) is a crime by the operator of a motor vehicle. If you have been charged with driving under the influence of any substance, you could face serious penalties.

​

Driving while impaired due to alcohol or drugs puts both the driver of the vehicle and others at risk, including accidents, property damage, or possibly death. As a result, Tennessee has harsh DUI penalties to deter driving under the influence. 

​

Common Penalties in Tennessee:

​Penalties for DUI in Tennessee increase in severity with each subsequent violation. These penalties can include: 

• Time in jail and/or prison

• License suspension

• Court fines and/or restitution of damages

• Participation in Alcohol or Drug treatment program

• Installation and maintenance of an ignition interlock device (IID) in your vehicle

• Mandatory monitoring by a Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitoring (SCRAM) device

​

In addition, you may have to pay fees to get your car back, as well as pay higher vehicle insurance premiums. Therefore, you should make sure that you have one of the best DUI lawyers to defend you in court.

​​​

DUI Attorneys may help Minimize the DUI Charge 

Just because you have been charged with DUI doesn't mean that you have to plead guilty or agree that you have done something wrong. A police officer is not required to prove that you are under the influence at the time of a traffic stop. All he or she will do is determine whether it's likely that you may be a danger to yourself or to other drivers.

​

After you have been charged, calling a Murfreesboro DUI attorney should be your first step in evaluating whether the charges can be reduced or dismissed. A Murfreesboro DUI attorney may be able to argue that chain of custody was not observed after a breath or blood test was taken or that your blood alcohol content was not above the legal limit.

​

Lowering DUI Charges may Eliminate Mandatory Penalties

If you are convicted of a DUI, you may have to spend a certain amount of time in jail. Additionally, you may also have to pay mandatory fines or spend time on probation. As part of a plea agreement, your charge may be reduced to reckless endangerment or a mere traffic violation. Therefore, you may not have to deal with mandatory jail time or a license suspension.

​

DUI lawyers may be able to help you get a favorable outcome in your impaired driving case. Just because you made one bad decision doesn't mean that you shouldn't be able to atone for it. Our criminal defense attorney is available to dispute the charge against you in court and ensure that you are able to move on with your life after the case is resolved.

​

Call the Clarke Law Firm today at (615) 796-6299 to schedule your initial consultation with our dedicated attorney or reach out via our online form.