Tennessee DUI Penalties

The state of Tennessee follows many of the same procedures as the rest of the country on DUIs, classified as misdemeanor. However, in Tennessee this can be made into an E-class felony after the 4th offense, increasing the severity of the crime and the penalties associated with it. A driver can be convicted for a DUI under Tennessee law “per se” for operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol level of .08%. Furthermore, Tennessee state law can convict a driver for operating under the influence of narcotics, illegal or prescribed. The courts create the premise for a DUI conviction by establishing that the driver was behind the wheel of a vehicle on a frequented surface under the influence of either drugs or alcohol.

First Time DUI Penalties

A first time DUI offender in the state of Tennessee is sentenced to a minimum of 48 hours in jail or seven days in jail if the driver is found with blood alcohol that is at or above .20%; as well as a $350 fine and court fees. A maximum sentence however can still put a first-time DUI offender behind bars for nearly a year. Other penalties include suspension of driver’s license for 12 months, attendance at a DUI education class and Alcohol Anonymous meetings in certain cases.

Subsequent DUI Penalties

If a driver finds himself convicted of a second DUI within the next ten years, the penalties become more severe—not only doubling the minimum time of a suspended license but increasing jail time to a minimum of 45 days. The government also has the right to confiscate the convicted driver’s vehicle. As predicted, a third and fourth DUI offense under Tennessee laws increase a convicted driver’s jail time, court and legal fees, license revocation, and a misdemeanor charge becomes a felony. It is advisable to contact legal help after even a single DUI to help prevent severe charges.