Tennessee DUI laws and penalties are determined by the nature and severity of the offense and the offender's criminal history. A fine of $600 to $3,500. A driver's license suspension/revocation of 2 years. How long your license is suspended will depend on how may times you have refused a chemical test and whether or not the incident involves an accident. Jail. And if the offender had a passenger under the age of 18 in the vehicle at the time of the offense, the minimum sentence is increased by 30 days (so, it's 32 or 37 days, depending on the circumstances). A first time DUI offender can face a minimum of 48 hours in jail which is required by law and you could face up to 11 months and 29 days in jail. In most cases, DUI offenses are included in the offenders Tennessee's criminal record depending on the nature and severity of the crime. However, the amount is $2000 for a felony DUI charge, from a fourth DUI charge and above. For a 3rd offense of a DUI, you may face: 120 days to 11 months and 29 days in jail. For instance, a DUI offender serving jail time could be allowed to do a jail sentence with a work-release. Legal Beagle: How to Know If a DUI Is on Your Record. Michelle Nati is an associate editor and writer who has reported on legal, criminal and government news for PasadenaNow.com and Complex Media. Keep in mind, though, that these are minimum jail sentences; it is possible even for first-time offenders to face up to 11 months and 29 days in jail for a DUI in Tennessee. Like many states Tennessee has a "implied consent" law. If youve been charged with DUI, its important to seek legal advice from an experienced Tennessee DUI attorney. Per Tennessee law55-10-415it is a Class A Misdemeanor for anyone under the age of 21 but older than 18 to drinking and drive with a blood alcohol concentration of .02% or greater. When a law enforcement officer suspects a motorist of intoxication, they are subjected to a breath or blood test. In states that recognize a DUI and a DWI as two separate offenses, a DWI charge is usually the more severe one. This means that if you drive in Tennessee you are agreeing that you would submit to a chemical test if asked to do so by law enforcement. The maximum jail sentence for a first DUI is 11 months and 29 days. A driver will not face penalties for refusing to take a blood test, unless an officer has a warrant. It signals a higher level of intoxication, so DWI offenders are issued harsher penalties. 55-10-403 (2007). Is under 21 in possession of a noncommercial license and has a BAC of 0.02 percent or greater. According to the states implied consent law, a driver gives consent to chemical testing the moment they get behind the wheel on Tennessee's roads. While you can refuse to take the test to determine your BAC, we highly recommend that you perform the test.
What You Need To Know About DUIs in Tennessee (2020 Edition) - Chiozza Law - 190 fatalities in alcohol-impaired crashes, - 218 fatalities in alcohol-impaired crashes, [Source: Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security]. The minimum cost for an IID for a year is $1,000. What are the standard DUI field sobriety tests? But a judge can take past DUI convictions into consideration when sentencing if they occurred within twenty years of the current offense. You will be required to carry yourSR22 insurancefor a period of 3-years. Ignition interlock device. DUI charges reduced to reckless endangerment, or reckless driving can be eligible for expungement. Typical penalties in Minnesota for a first DUI offense are potential jail time and or loss of driving privileges for a minimum of 30 days. For instance, if you have a documented BAC of 0.20% or greater, you will face mandatory jail time . It should also be noted that a person could still be arrested for driving under the influence in Tennessee even if their blood alcohol concentration level is below the legal limit of .08% just by displaying signs that are consistent with a person who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Five years must have elapsed since completing the sentence imposed on an offender. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, passenger under the age of 18 in the vehicle, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Financial compensation for victims suffering person loss or physical injury. If you are convicted of a first DUI offense, you will be subject to a 1-year license revocation. A person holding a commercial drivers license (CDL) can not only lose their ability to drive, they can also lose their job, as they no longer have the ability to work. If there happened to be an underage passenger present in the vehicle, an extra 30 days could be added to the minimum jail time of 45 days making 75 days minimum jail time instead. Those ages 13 to 17 face license suspension until they reach 17 or for one year, whichever comes later. In Tennessee, a driver is considered a second DUI offender when the driver has one prior DUI conviction within the past ten years. Six months probation fee costs $346, while a 12 months cost $466, and a monthly probation fee costs $30. It can also affect the offender's ability to get a job, go to school or apply for a loan, which can, in turn, hinder their ability to rent or buy a residence. Third time offenderswill not be eligiblefor a restricted license. According to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, a first-offense DUI is a misdemeanor. A judge may also order the convicted driver to install an ignition interlock device (IID) at their own expense. In Tennessee, DUI checkpoints are legal, and drivers are legally detained for a short while for questioning by an officer who suspects them of driving 'under the influence.'. If the child is harmed, the offender will be locked away for between 2 to 12 years and fined a minimum of $5000. However, the length of suspension can vary based on the details of the arrest. 200 Jefferson Ave #1250 Several possible aggravating factors include the following: Legal Beagle: How to Get a DUI Removed From Your Driving Record, Legal Beagle: How to Know If a DUI Is on Your Record. Once that period is over, you can reinstate your license after satisfying any court-ordered requirements, retaking your drivers examination, installing an ignition interlock device, and paying reinstatement fees. Whether a person serves that time in a county jail or a state prison will depend on the length of the sentence. This device must be installed by an approved provider. When you are charged with a DUI, Tennessee law defines it as a class A misdemeanor. Recognize that if you have been charged with a DUI, we strongly advise hiring a DUI lawyer to represent you in your coming case. A person operating a commercial motor vehicle in the state of Tennessee while under the influence of alcohol, drugs or an intoxicant with a blood alcohol concentration of .04% or greater or failing to submit to a chemical test is in violation of the states laws regarding CDLs and will be arrested for DUI and your CDL will be revoked for a period of 1-year following a first offense violation. 2023 Chiozza Law Firm All Rights Reserved, Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. However, there are other non-court related consequences of a DUI conviction that an offender has to deal with, such as: Yes, a DUI offender could get fired from one's job, but this depends on the type of job in question and the nature of the conviction. If a victim has suffered injuries as the result of a drivers impairment, the penalty goes up to two years, and if the driver's impairment causes death to another person, they will lose their license for three years. Minimum first year costs could exceed $1,000.00, If two (2) convictions of DUI in 5 years, Ignition Interlock Device required for 6 months after reinstatement at your expense, Drug and Alcohol Treatment may be required at the judge's discretion, License revocation for 2 years/Restricted License available, You will be ordered to attend an alcohol and drug treatment program, Ignition Interlock Device installed at your expense, Pay restitution to any person suffering personal injury or loss, License revocation for 6 years/Restricted license available, 1 Year (365) days of jail time with a minimum of 150 consecutive days served, License revocation for 8 years/Restricted license available, License revocation from 1 to 5 years according to number of prior offenses, Jail time 2 to 12 years according to range [40-35-112], No restricted driver license is available, Class D felony if child suffers serious injury [55-10-403] [40-35-112], Fatal crash caused by DUI with .08 BAC or more, License revocation for 3-10 years/NO restricted license available, If any of the following conditions are present: Two or more prior (a) DUI conviction, (b) Vehicular assault convictions or, (c) any combination, A BAC of .20 or greater at the time of the vehicular homicide has (1) one prior DUI or Vehicular Assault offense, $50 fee if filing of financial responsibility (SR-22) is required, $75 fee for failure to surrender driver license may be required, Required to apply for valid license & pay appropriate driver license fee, $3 certification fee if violation occurred in Tennessee, License suspension for 1 year or until person reaches age 17, whichever longer for 1st offense & may apply to court for early withdrawal of suspension after serving 90 days, License suspension of 2 years or until person reaches age 18, whichever longer for 2nd offense & may apply to court for early withdrawal of suspension after serving 1 year, Restricted license can be issued on 1st offense at court discretion, however, on 2nd offense must serve one year of suspension before eligible for restricted, License revocation for 1 year/No provision for restricted license. 48 hours to 11 months and 29 days in jail. DUI Process has partnered with the largest and most trusted SR22 insurance provider in the state of Tennessee and has worked out a special discount only available here for our website visitors. The officer instructs you to stand on one foot while lifting the other foot six inches off the ground. Since your arrest means that you displayed probable cause for driving under the influence, Tennessees implied consent law states that you consent to taking one of the BAC tests blood, breath or urine. lawyer/client relationship. Repeat DUI offenders in Tennessee are typically mandated to attend an alcohol treatment program and may have their vehicles seized as well. Notwithstanding, persons within 18-20 can be charged with either one. Its important that you speak with an experienced DUI lawyer who can help you determine what steps are necessary to seek a reduction of charges in your specific case. On the other hand, DWI means driving while intoxicated, and in some states, DWI is the designation for drunk driving. Monetary Fines and Penalties for DUI in Tennessee. First-time Tennessee DUI offenders face jail time of between 48 hours to 11 months. For more information about what may be required to reinstate your driver's license, please visit our Suspended License in Tennessee page. According to NOLO, if they are sitting in the driver's seat on a public road while impaired, that may be enough. Moreover, you will have to obtain a certified order from the court, obtain an SR-22 from a liability insurance company, and pay a $65 license fee and a $2.00 application fee. Jail time of 45 days to 11 months and 29 days in jail. However, a judge has the ultimate power within the already set parameters to consider any prior DUIs within the past 20 years and determine the offender's actual fines and jail times as factors such as injury, accidents, and deaths could affect the penalties. Why? Please reference the Terms of Use and the Supplemental Terms for specific information related to your state. If an officer asks you to take the field sobriety test, just kindly refuse his request).