• Underage Driving While Impaired (Juvenile) - driving while impaired (BAC .02%) by a person under 18 is a delinquent act punishable by 1 year driver license suspension, a fine of $250, and potential public service work days.                                                         

• Underage Driving While Impaired (18+) - underage driving while impaired (BAC .02%) between 18 and 21 is a class A misdemeanor punishable by 1 year license suspension, a fine of $250, and public service work days.                                                    

• DUI First - DUI First carries a minimum mandatory 48 hours in jail if your BAC is above a .08%. However, if your BAC is a .15% or higher, there is a mandatory minimum of 7 days in jail. Furthermore, this charge is a class A misdemeanor which carries a maximum sentence of 11 months 29 days. You will also lose your driver license for 1 year, will be ordered to participate in a Alcohol and Drug Treatment Program, pay a fine ranging from $350 to $1500, and be required to get an interlock device and obtain SR-22 insurance. You must have the SR-22 insurance and interlock before you may obtain a restricted license. You also are required to have the interlock in your car for a certain amount of time before you may get your driver license reinstated.                                           

• Implied Consent Law - If you refuse a blood or breath test in Tennessee, while not a criminal offense, there is a statutory revocation of your driver license for 1 year for the first offense, 2 years for the second offense or if there is an accident involving one or more persons being seriously injured, or 5 years if involved in a accident where one or more persons are killed.                                                                                                   

• Reckless Driving/Reckless Endangerment - Reckless Driving is a class B misdemeanor carrying a maximum sentence of 6 months. Reckless Endangerment may be a class A misdemeanor carrying a maximum sentence of 11 months 29 days, or a class E felony which can carry a sentence of 1 to 6 years depending on whether the prosecuting officer is considering a car as a deadly weapon.                                                                                                                 

• DUI 2nd - DUI 2nd will result in a lot of the same repercussions as a DUI First. However, the following additional penalties/increases will apply: from 45 days up to 11 months 29 days in jail, $600 to $3,500 mandatory fine, 2 year driver license revocation, vehicle subject to seizure/forfeiture, and, if occurring within 5 years of the first DUI offense, maintaining an interlock device in your vehicle for 6 months after your driver license is reinstated.                                                                                                                                                             

• DUI 3rd - DUI 3rd carries all of the same penalties as DUI 2nd with the following additional penalties/increases: from 120 days up to 11 months 29 days in jail, $1,100 up to $10,000 mandatory fine, driver license revocation for 6 years.                                                                                                                           

• DUI 4th and subsequent - DUI 4th and subsequent DUIs are considered class E felonies. As such, they carry a minimum sentence of 1 year and a maximum sentence of 6 years. However, Tennessee also requires that 150 consecutive days must be served in jail. There is a minimum fine of $3,000 and maximum fine of $15,000. Lastly, there is a driver license revocation for 8 years.

Do you have serious concerns about your liberties at stake due to a DUI or DUI related charge? Contact The CW Firm today at 423-210-4411, or email us at contact@thecwfirm.com and let us help you evaluate the situation and discover a path to reach a just and fair resolution to your case.

How We Can Help You With Your DUI/DWI Case

When looking at the effects of driving under the influence on communities throughout Tennessee, it is understandable why the state has chosen a criminal statute focusing on deterrence. However, even the penalties for a DUI First can completely wreck a person's life by inhibiting their ability to drive, which in this state, is vital to our livelihoods.

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As your TN DUI Attorneys, we can help you with your DUI and related cases by examining the facts of your case, making sure the law is being followed, and advocating for you before the Courts of Tennessee to ensure the best outcome possible for you and protecting your livelihood. Reach out to The CW Firm for your DUI case today.

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