Nashville Drunk Driving Defense Lawyers
DWI penalties range from two days in jail and one-year license suspension (for a first offense) to six years jail time and up to a five-year license suspension (for a fourth offense).
Brent Horst, Attorney at Law & Associates defends people charged with drunk driving anywhere in Tennessee, including the cities of Knoxville, Memphis, Chattanooga, and Clarksville.
Contact an attorney online or call 615-259-9867 to schedule a free confidential case evaluation.
DWI Penalties in Tennessee
The penalties for a drunk driving conviction in Tennessee can vary depending on whether the defendant has prior convictions on his or her record:
- First offense DWI — Up to eleven months and 29 days in jail or a county workhouse, up to $1,500 in fines, a one-year license suspension, and community service
- Second offense DWI — Up to eleven months and 29 days in jail or a county workhouse, up to $3,500 in fines, a two-year license suspension, and a possible mandatory alcohol treatment program
- Third offense DWI — Up to eleven months and 29 days in jail or a county workhouse, up to $10,000 in fines, and license suspension for between three and 10 years
- Fourth offense DWI — No less than 150 days but up to six years in jail, up to $15,000 in fines, a five-year license suspension. A fourth DWI is considered a felony.
- Felony DWI — Any DWI will be charged as a felony if it resulted in serious bodily injury or death to a minor
Drunk Driving Defense: What the State Has to Prove
Before you are convicted of DWI in Tennessee, the state must prove one of two points: 1) that you were over the legal blood-alcohol content (BAC) limit; or 2) that you were impaired.
- BAC over the legal limit — In Tennessee, .08 BAC or above is considered over the legal limit. Police officers often use the Breathalyzer test or blood-alcohol tests to prove BAC. Despite what you may have heard, it is possible to dispute the results of those tests. Police officers often make mistakes, many are not qualified to administer tests, and the test results can be inaccurate.
- Driver impairment — Police officers administer field sobriety tests to determine if a driver was impaired. These tests are highly subjective, and can be disputed by an experienced DWI attorney.
Contact a Criminal Defense Lawyer Now
To find out more about DWI penalties or to speak to a defense attorney about a suspended or revoked license, contact us online or call 615-259-9867. We offer a free initial consultation.
