Knoxville DUI/DWI Attorneys

Understanding Tennessee’ DUI Laws

DUI (driving under the influence), also referred to as DWI (driving while intoxicated), is considered to be a serious offense in Tennessee that often results in considerable penalties. If you have violated traffic laws or been driving unsteadily, a police officer may pull you over and ask you to take a field sobriety test. They may ask to test your breath for its blood alcohol content and ask you to submit blood sample. If you are convicted or plead guilty, Tennessee has a mandatory jail time for first-time offenders.

What are the Penalties for DUI?

The penalties for even first time DUI offenders in Tennessee are strict. Every conviction comes with mandatory jail time, the length of which depends on the severity of the offense. If a child under 18 years of age was in the car, a thirty-day mandatory minimum incarceration sentence is added as an enhancement. Fines and license suspensions are usually added to the penalties as well.

DUI penalties in Tennessee may include:

• First time offense – A minimum of 48 hours in jail and $350 fine; 7 days if your BAC was .2 or higher. The maximum penalty can include up to eleven months and twenty-nine days in jail and $1,500 in fines. Your license will also be revoked for one year.
• Second offense – If you have a previous DUI conviction, you will be subject to a minimum 45-day jail sentence and $600 fine. Maximum penalties include a jail sentence of eleven months and twenty-nine and up to $3,500 in fines. Your license will also be revoked for 2 years.
• Third offense – A third DUI conviction includes a minimum 120-day jail sentence and $1,100 fine with a maximum of up to eleven months and twenty-nine days and up to $10,000 in fines. Your license will be revoked for six years.
• Fourth offense – From your fourth offense and onward, the crime becomes a felony. The minimum jail sentence is 150 days with up to 6 years in prison (or up to 15 years after the sixth offense), a minimum $3,000 fine, as well as an 8-year license revocation.

Implied Consent Law

If a police officer has probable cause to believe that a driver is operating a vehicle under the influence, committed the offense of vehicular assault, aggravated vehicular assault, vehicular homicide, or aggravated vehicular homicide, refusal to submit to a breathalyzer test will result in a suspension of the driver’s license. However, the police officer must comply with strict procedures before your license can be suspended. You should consult with a lawyer to determine if you have a defense.

As you can see, Tennessee takes DUI/DWI convictions very seriously. Even if you failed a field sobriety test, there are still things that can be done to contest your conviction in court. The test may have been compromised, or law enforcement may not have had probable cause to pull you over in the first place. These are the kinds of details our Knoxville DUI lawyers can investigate.

Field Sobriety Tests

The Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) is made of up 3 individual tests:

• Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test - For this test, the officer will take a pen or small object and wave it back in forth in front of the persons eyes to looks for signs of intoxication.
• Walk-and-turn test - This is performed when the officer has the person walk in a straight line for a designated number of steps and then turn around and come back.
• One-leg stand test - Here the officer will have the person stand with one leg off the ground and hold it until told to put it back down.

An officer performs these tests to help make the decision on if the person operating the vehicle was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Some of the common signs they look for are loss of balance or using their arms to help keep their balance, slurred speech, and/or not following instructions properly.

Knoxville, TN DUI/DWI Offender Resources

There are several local resources available for DUI offenders in Knoxville, TN. Here are a few options:

1. Helen Ross McNabb Center - This is a non-profit organization that provides substance abuse treatment and counseling services for DUI offenders.

2. East Tennessee Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous - AA is a support group for individuals struggling with alcohol addiction. There are several AA meetings in Knoxville and surrounding areas.

3. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) - MADD is a nonprofit organization that aims to prevent drunk driving and support victims of drunk driving. The organization has a local chapter in Knoxville.

4. The University of Tennessee Medical Center Substance Abuse Program - The program offers a comprehensive range of services for individuals struggling with addiction, including those with DUI offenses.

It's important to note that the specific resources available may vary depending on the individual's circumstances and the severity of their offense. It's best to speak with a legal professional or treatment provider to determine the most appropriate resources for your situation.

If you have been arrested for DUI, contact us today at (865) 544-2010 to schedule a free consultation with our legal team.