Arrested for drunk driving in Tennessee (TN) – Drunk Drivers (2024)

FAQs

What happens to first time DUI offenders in TN? ›

For a DUI 1st conviction: Eleven month and twenty nine day (11/29) sentence, with a minimum service or forty eight (48) hours jail, a fine between $350.00 to $1,500.00, Alcohol safety class, suspension of drivers license for one (1) year. (Eligible for restricted license).

Your license will be suspended for 1 year if you are convicted of DUI in Tennessee. It is possible to obtain a restricted license, however, you would be required to install an ignition interlock device, at your own expense, and drive only vehicles that have an interlock installed.

The new laws changing include one that will lower the Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) level for enhancing a DUI penalty from 0.20% percent to 0.15%. The Isaacs Law Firm explained this will subject approximately 80 to 85 percent of people convicted of a DUI to the enhanced penalty.

The short answer is yes. Our DUI lawyers routinely get drunk driving cases dismissed or reduced. Ultimately, it comes down to the evidence needed for a DUI conviction, and whether the prosecution proves their case.

Charge Reduction

In Tennessee, you may have the option of pleading to a “lesser included offense” known as standard reckless driving. This charge may be an option for some individuals facing DUI charges, depending on the specific circ*mstances of their case.

Can you drive after DUI before court date Tennessee? If you've been arrested for a DUI in Tennessee, your license may be suspended until your court date unless you request an administrative hearing to challenge the suspension.

The answer is generally no. Tennessee law allows all but one type of misdemeanor to be removed from a first-time offender's record, and without a jail sentence. These include domestic assault, underage drinking, shoplifting, weapons possession, vandalism, and simple drug possession.

Any offense that requires a punishment of “a year or more” is considered a felony. A DUI first offense is a misdemeanor. Thus, the probation is 11 months and 29 days. Sometimes we will negotiate a probationary period that is “unsupervised”.

Home » How Long Does DUI Stay On Your Record In Tennessee? Unfortunately, a DUI conviction in Tennessee will remain on your driving record permanently. There is no way to expunge or remove a DUI charge from your record through taking a class or other means. The only possibility is getting the charge dismissed.

Fines (currently in Tennessee, fines range from $465 to $1,500 for a first-time DUI) Court costs. Driver's license reinstatement fees, as well as additional fees related to your driver's license. Mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device at your expense, which could cost more than $1,000.

How do I beat a DUI in Tennessee? ›

There is no 'way to beat a DUI', unless you entirely refrain from drinking, drugs and driving. There are however complex legal issues which need to be examined by a DUI lawyer to ensure that your rights are being protected and that the evidence which is being used against you in the DUI case is admissible.

In Tennessee, the legislature has determined that no one convicted of a DUI is eligible for diversion. Essentially, if judicial diversion is granted (on an offense other than DUI or other serious criminal offense), the offender will enter a guilty plea to the charges they are facing.

A DUI will stay on your record for life.

A DUI conviction cannot be expunged off your record.

So, the sheriff sets presumptive bail amounts for these offenses, in most cases. Therefore, DUI arrestees may be able to get out of jail before they see judges. Typically, the presumptive amount is around $1,500 for a misdemeanor and $2,000 + for felony DUI.

DUI Penalties

All convictions carry a mandatory minimum jail time. You will face a license revocation for at least one year or more if you refuse implied consent chemical tests. The judge may suspend some of your jail sentence and place you on probation. You will have multiple tasks to complete on probation.

What is the statute of limitations for DUI? In Tennessee, prosecution for a misdemeanor offense must be commenced within one year after commission of the offense. A Class E Felony DUI must be commenced within two years.