Knoxville DUI Attorney

What Is the Penalty for First Time DUI in Tennessee?

For a first time DUI in Tennessee, you can face a fine of $350 to $1,500 as well as 48 hours to 11 months and 29 days in jail. You may also have a minimum sentence of 7 days in jail if your blood alcohol content (BAC) was .20% or more.

Can You Avoid Jail Time for First DUI in Tennessee?

If you've been arrested for a first DUI offense in Tennessee, it's natural to worry about the possibility of spending time behind bars. However, depending on the circumstances of your case, there are many alternatives to jail time that could be available to you.

In some cases, a first-time DUI offender may be able to avoid jail by accepting probation, which allows individuals convicted of an offense to remain free in their community under the supervision of a probation officer who will monitor compliance with court-ordered terms such as alcohol counseling or drug testing. If all requirements are met within the allotted period of time, the probationary period will end and the charge may be dismissed.

In other cases, a judge might grant community service as an alternative to jail time. This involves performing unpaid labor for a non-profit or public agency in lieu of incarceration.

Lastly, a lawyer can help you negotiate a plea agreement, which is an arrangement between you and the prosecutor that involves admitting guilt or entering a “no contest” plea in exchange for lighter penalties than what could result from a conviction. Therefore, a plea deal could potentially result in lesser penalties, which includes avoiding serving any jail time, or even dropped charges.

Effective Litigation for Tennessee DUI Charges

Over the years, our Knoxville DUI Lawyers have become known for our ability to effectively negotiate and litigate on behalf of our clients, regardless of how complicated the situation may be. We understand that a client may find themselves in a sticky situation at any given moment, which is why we make sure our services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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

Tennessee DUI Penalties

Under Tennessee DUI laws, penalties for a DUI may include:

• Jail time
• Suspension of a driver's license
• Increased insurance rates
• Heavy fines
• Community Service
• Mandatory enrollment in an alcohol education class

A DUI conviction has the potential to result in a variety of penalties. The severity of penalties will depend on the specific situation, such as if this was the defendant's first offense DUI, if they were underage, or if there were enhancing factors that made it a felony.

You May Lose Other Licenses

It is a commonly held belief that DUI convicts only get their driver’s license revoked. While this is partially true, those guilty of a DUI could also lose professional licenses needed to sustain a career. Without both a driver’s license and professional license, your life could be impacted dramatically.

Numerous professions may revoke your license following a DUI conviction, including but not limited to:

• Doctors
• Nurses
• Insurance agents
• Real estate agents
• Driving services
• At-will employees

Misdemeanor vs. Felony DUI

It is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08% or .04% if you are a commercial driver. If you are pulled over on suspicion of DUI, you will be told to take a breathalyzer test and/or field sobriety test. If you fail any of these tests, you may be charged with a misdemeanor or felony, even if you only had one drink before driving.

Tennessee penalizes DUI offenders based on the frequency and level of the alleged offense:

1^st time DUI offender

• Misdemeanor
• 48 hours to 11 months and 29 days in jail, and at least 7 days in jail for a .20 BAC
• License revocation for 1 year
• $350 to $1,500 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

2^nd 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

3^rd 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

4^th 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

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.