Arrested for driving under the influence? At the Law Office of Joseph A. Fanduzz, we represent individuals who are facing charges for drunk driving. A DUI offense should not be taken lightly, because a conviction could result in the suspension of your driver's license, increased insurance rates, and heavy fines. Our Knoxville DUI lawyer has plenty of experience handling drunk driving cases, and we know what it takes to build a defense that is strong enough to get a client’s charges reduced or even dropped.
Arrested for DUI? You only have 10 days to act! Contact our Knoxville DUI lawyers online or by calling (865) 896-9971 to set up your FREE consultation.
2nd time DUI offender
Misdemeanor
45 days to 11 months and 29 days in jail
License revocation for 2 years
$600 to $3,500 fine
Restitution to any person suffering physical injury or personal loss
Participation in a drug and alcohol treatment program
Ignition Interlock Device installed at your expense
If you commit two DUIs in 5 years, an Ignition Interlock Device is required for 6 months after reinstatement, at your expense
Subject to vehicle seizure/forfeiture
3rd time DUI offender
Misdemeanor
120 days to 11 months and 29 days in jail
License revocation for 6 years
$1,100 to $10,000 in fines
Participation in a drug and alcohol treatment program
Ignition Interlock Device installed at your expense
If you commit two DUIs in 5 years, an Ignition Interlock Device is required for 6 months after reinstatement, at your expense
Subject to vehicle seizure/forfeiture
4th and subsequent DUI offender
Class E felony
150 days to 1 year in jail
License revocation for 8 years
$3,000 to $15,000 in fines
Participation in a drug and alcohol treatment program
Ignition Interlock Device installed at your expense
If you commit two DUIs in 5 years, an Ignition Interlock Device is required for 6 months after reinstatement, at your expense
Subject to vehicle seizure/forfeiture
Child endangerment: DUI with passenger under 18 years old
Class D felony if a child suffers serious injury
2 to 12 years in jail
License revocation
Class B felony if child death is involved
8 to 30 years in jail
License revocation
Beyond these statutory penalties, a conviction can affect nearly every part of your daily life. Many people who come to us are concerned about how a second or third DUI will impact their work schedule, professional license, or ability to drive children to school and activities around Knoxville. When you sit down with a Knoxville DUI Lawyer from our firm, we can walk you through the potential consequences in your specific situation and help you understand what to expect in the General Sessions Court or Criminal Court handling your case.
Because Tennessee law becomes harsher with every additional offense, it is vital to get sound legal guidance as early as possible after an arrest. A DUI attorney can help you evaluate whether treatment programs, ignition interlock options, or other alternatives may be available and can also advise you on what to do if your case is connected to an accident investigated by the Knoxville Police Department or the Tennessee Highway Patrol. We take the time to explain how local court practices in Knox County may affect the timeline of your case and your options for seeking a more favorable outcome.
Why You Need Our Knoxville DUI Lawyers on Your Side:
We are available 24/7
Our firm offers free consultations
We are skilled in negotiation and litigation
We have an elite trial lawyer on our side
No license, no job. Do not gamble your financial stability following a DUI charge. Instead, contact our experienced Knoxville DUI lawyers at (865) 896-9971 as soon as you’ve been accused.
When you reach out to us right after an arrest, we can quickly begin gathering police reports, video from the traffic stop, and other evidence that may be critical to your defense. Our team regularly appears in Knox County courts, so we understand how local judges view issues such as prior convictions, alleged refusals, and claims of child endangerment. By having a DUI defense attorney Knoxville residents can turn to for prompt guidance, you give yourself a better chance to preserve your driving privileges and protect your record while your case moves through the system.
Understanding The Tennessee DUI Court Process
Many people charged with drunk driving have never been through the criminal courts before and are unsure what will happen after they are released from custody. In Knoxville, DUI cases often begin in Knox County General Sessions Court, where the judge will address your initial appearance, bond conditions, and early deadlines. Knowing the basic stages of arraignment, preliminary hearing, and potential Grand Jury review can make the experience less intimidating and help you work more effectively with your drunk driving attorney.
After the first court date, there may be several settings where lawyers review discovery, negotiate with the prosecutor, and file motions challenging the stop, arrest, or testing procedures. If your case is bound over to criminal court, you will face additional decisions about plea offers, motion hearings, and whether to proceed to trial before a jury in Knoxville. Throughout this process, a Knoxville DUI Lawyer can keep you informed about what each date means, what paperwork you will need, and how your choices at each step may affect both the criminal charges and your driver’s license.
“Mr. Fanduzz is committed to nothing but the BEST outcome for his clients.”
Nearly two years ago, I was charged with DUI and Speeding. Due to my occupation, a conviction could be detrimental to my career. I contacted Mr. Fanduzz and he was able to have my case placed on Judicial Diversion, which required me to serve only one year supervised probation (reduced from two years) and court cost. I retained my drivers license and did not have to purchase expensive car insurance.
Unfortunately, while on probation, I was charged with two counts of assault and aggravated assault. Along with these new charges, I also faced violation of my probation and the original DUI. All charges were considered Felonies at this point. There was no hesitation in hiring him to represent me again. Mr. Fanduzz not only kept me well informed, he also skillfully and agressively argued on my behalf. He arranged for my probation and judicial diversion to be reinstated and the felony assault charges to be dismissed in exchange for a plea to a misdemeanor offence.
Needless to say, I highly recommend Mr. Fanduzz because of his attention to detail and commitment to have the BEST possible outcome for his clients.
If an officer accuses someone of driving while under the influence (DUI), it is only a matter of time until he or she asks the suspect to take a breathalyzer test. While many assume they have to comply with the officer’s request, the reality is that they do not have to. In fact, in some circumstances, refusing the test may be in the accused person’s best interest.
Breathalyzers & Implied Consent in Tennessee
Under Tennessee DUI laws, anyone with a driver’s license gives their “implied consent” to take a breathalyzer test when asked by police. Implied consent means any driver under suspicion of a DUI must take a breathalyzer or face an automatic one-year license suspension. Therefore, if you are sure you are under the legal limit, you should take the breathalyzer test to try to save your license.
However, if you believe you are potentially over the legal limit, it may be a good idea to refuse.
Implied consent can pressure people into taking breathalyzer tests, but here are some other facts to consider:
A first-time DUI conviction will result in a one-year license suspension, so taking a breathalyzer while intoxicated could result in a license suspension anyway.
You may qualify for a restricted driver’s license that lets you drive despite refusing a breathalyzer test.
It is often easier to defend a DUI case when there is no hard proof of intoxication. Therefore, refusing a breathalyzer may take away important evidence from the prosecution.
Based on these facts, it is important to weigh your options carefully when asked to take a breathalyzer.
We encourage anyone facing this choice to think about where they are in the process and what other evidence may already exist, such as field sobriety tests or dash camera footage from the stop. A brief phone call with a Knoxville DUI Attorney after an arrest can help you understand how your decision about testing might affect both the criminal case and any implied consent hearing regarding your license. Because these hearings are often scheduled quickly in Knox County, time is critical if you hope to keep driving to work, school, or family obligations.
Let Our Knoxville DUI Lawyers Challenge Your DUI Conviction!
Oftentimes, many individuals simply accept their charges and allow for a DUI to go on their driving record. However, there are ways to challenge a DUI. Our Knoxville DUI attorneys are not afraid to fight on our clients' behalf to protect their license, driving record, and insurance rates. We will not hesitate to argue against the methods used by the arresting officer or to contest the evidence brought forth by the prosecution.
We carefully examine whether the officer had a lawful basis to stop your vehicle, how roadside tests were administered, and whether any breath or blood test followed Tennessee Department of Safety procedures. In some cases, we may consult with forensic or medical professionals to review the accuracy of test results or the impact of medications and medical conditions. By taking a thorough approach and preparing every matter as though it could proceed to trial in a Knoxville-area courtroom, our drunk driving attorney provides clients with a clear strategy and realistic expectations about the possible outcomes in their case.
Meet Your AttorneyJoseph Fanduzz is in an elite group of trial lawyers who have attended and graduated from the National Criminal Defense College.
