Driving Under The Influence (DUI)
Tennessee’s driving under the influence (DUI) laws are meant to keep drivers off the road who are under the influence of either alcohol or drugs, posing a hazard to themselves and other drivers. Alcohol, illegal drugs, prescription drugs, and even some over-the-counter drugs can adversely affect the reaction time, vision, concentration, and coordination resulting in dangerous and risky driving conditions.
Drunk drivers injure and kill other innocent motorists. If a drunk driver has injured you or a loved one, don’t delay. Call Terry, Terry & Stapleton today at 877-489-5411 or use our online contact form to arrange a free consultation.
In the state of Tennessee a police officer can pull drivers over if they see them driving erratically and believe they may be under the influence of an impairing substance. Behaviors that officers typically look for include: turning with a wide radius, straddling the center lane marker, weaving, drifting and swerving, driving slower than the speed limit, driving at night with the headlights off and turning abruptly.
When a police officer stops a driver suspected of being intoxicated, the officer may request that the suspect submit to a preliminary alcohol screening test to determine the person’s alcohol concentration, using a device approved by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The driver may also be subjected to field sobriety tests, such as reciting the alphabet or maintaining balance while standing on one leg.
The state of Tennessee assumes “implied consent” for all of drivers. That means that any person who drives a motor vehicle in Tennessee is deemed to have given consent to a test or tests for the purpose of determining the alcohol content of that person’s blood. If the driver refuses to submit to the officer’s request for a BAC test, the court will revoke the license of the driver for a period of one year, if the person does not have a prior conviction.
Tennessee DUI Penalties
Tennessee has stiff penalties for violators of their DUI laws. Following are the ranges of penalties for DUI offenses:
- 1st offense: Up to $1,500 fine; minimum of 48 hours and maximum of 11 months in jail; suspended driver’s license up to a year; with towing, bail, attorney, high risk insurance, court costs, school, and reinstatement fees, a driver’s first offense costs could add up to $4,900.
- 2nd offense: Up to $3,500 mandatory fine; minimum of 45 days in jail and maximum of 11 months in jail; suspended driver’s license for up to 2 years; subject to vehicle seizure/forfeiture; mandatory attendance at a DUI school.
- 3rd offense: Up to $10,000 mandatory fine; minimum of 120 days in jail and maximum of 11 months in jail; license revocation for 3-10 years/NO restricted license available; subject to vehicle seizure/forfeit; DUI school; judge could order an Ignition Interlock Device installed at driver’s expense.
2008 Tennessee and National DUI Statistics:*
However, stiff DUI penalties do not deter all drunk drivers and thousands of motorists, here in Tennessee and across the nation, are injured and killed by their illegal conduct, statistics show:
- In 2008, 11,773 people were killed nationally in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes. These alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities accounted for 32 percent of the total motor vehicle traffic fatalities in the United States.
- The 11,773 fatalities in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes during 2008 represent an average of one alcohol-impaired-driving fatality every 45 minutes.
- In the state of Tennessee, 37 percent of the fatal accidents were caused by drivers with a BAC level of almost double the states limit of .08 percent.
- With 386 alcohol-related vehicle deaths in Tennessee in 2008, the state was ranked the 12th highest state in the country for alcohol-related accidents.
Contact Us for Your Legal Needs
If a drunk driver has injured you or a loved one, do not delay. It may be necessary to begin an investigation immediately. Call our Tennessee DUI accident lawyers today at 877-489-5411 or use our online contact form to arrange a free consultation.
We have almost 50 years of experience representing the injured and will fight for the justice and compensation you deserve. Our firm helps accident victims across East Tennessee, including Hamblen, Hawkins, Greene, Sevier, Knox, Washington, Sullivan and Cocke counties and the communities of Greeneville, Morristown, Sevierville, Dandridge, Rogersville, Newport, Knoxville, Kingsport, Johnson City and Jefferson City.
*Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 2008 Traffic Safety Facts.
