Tennessee DUI News

Due to the new Tennessee expungement law (allowing for the erasure of an arrest or conviction from public record) effective July 1, 2012, there has been some confusion about how much a court clerk may charge to file an expungement petition.  In an effort to resolve the many questions relating to this issue, the State of Tennessee Attorney General’s Office issued Opinion Number 12–89.  This opinion provides a detailed analysis of how the Attorney General arrived at its answer, but ... Read More »

During the last week, the news in Knoxville has focused on an unbelievably stupid or ignorant act by a  University of Tennessee fraternity member who, on  September 22nd, allegedly “consumed” alcohol by inserting a tube in his rectum and then pouring alcohol into the tube.  the student denied taking this action, but the University of Tennessee Police investigators found evidence of this action.  While few reports of similar incidents are made, this method of becoming intoxicated has been around for ... Read More »

Alcohol Consumption Affects Gastric Bypass Patients Differently. In 2011, the American College of Surgeons issued a press release reporting that patients who underwent a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) operation had a considerably higher breath alcohol content based on the same amount of alcohol consumed prior to the operation.  Moreover, these patients took significantly more time to return to a sober state after the operation compared with alcohol levels tested prior to having the procedure. Patients undergoing a RYGB operation should ... Read More »

  Liat Clark, a reporter for WIRED.CO.UK, wrote on  September 4, 2012 that two computer scientists have published a paper explaining that the use of two separate algorithms used in conjunction with thermal imaging may be used in the future to scan for potential drunk drivers. Georgia Koukiou and Vassilis Anastassopoulos of the University of Patras in Greece authored a paper published in the International Journal of Electronic Security and Digital Forensics.  The theory is based on the fact that alcohol ... Read More »

Did you realize that you may commit the crime of driving under the influence of an intoxicant (DUI) even if you are taking medication prescribed by your physician.  Once again, the national media has brought attention to the public about people who “sleep drive.” In mid July, 2012, Kerry Kennedy was arrested in New York after crashing her vehicle which some reported was caused by Ambien® induced sleep driving.  U.S. commerce Secretary John Bryson suffered a similar incident in June, ... Read More »

On August 8, 2012, a former Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper, Jonathan Reed, was arrested in Cookeville, Tennessee for the misdemeanor offenses of driving under the influence (DUI) and possession of a handgun while under the influence.  Former trooper Reed had been dismissed from the Tennessee Highway Patrol in June, 2012 for gross misconduct.  More information may be obtained from: http://www.newschannel5.com. A former president of a defunct chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving was arrested on February 18, 2011 for drunk ... Read More »

The media makes a major effort to educate the public when law enforcement agencies decide to have a “No Refusal Weekend.”  Since the first Knox County, Tennessee DUI Enforcement “No Refusal Weekend” in July 2012, those who are mis-informed have generated a lot of incorrect information.  This blog entry will attempt to explain in layman’s terms the underlying Tennessee law. Tennessee DUI law, just like criminal law in general, has allowed an officer to apply to a neutral and detached ... Read More »

Tennessee DUI Laws 2012 Two new Tennessee DUI laws now make it more difficult to defend persons accused of driving under the influence.  In another change, the DUI penalty when the driver is accompanied by someone under the age of 18 has increased. The 2012 Tennessee Legislature amended Tennessee Code Annotated § 55-10-406 (the Implied Consent Law).  This law applies after an officer concludes that a person is probably under the influence of an intoxicant and then requests the suspect ... Read More »

The expungement of a criminal record is now possible for many Tennesseans.  On May 21, 2012, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam signed into law legislation that broadens eligibility for the criminal expungement statute.  The new law allows for the expungement (also known as cleaning, clearing, erasing and removal) of a criminal charge from a person’s public criminal record.  Many Tennesseans once barred from employment opportunities and stripped of important constitutional rights as the result of a one-time indiscretion, will now be ... Read More »

On May 2, 2012 news sources reported an American scientist and French designer unveiled a new product in Paris that allows people to become intoxicated or drunk in just a few seconds.  They claim it avoids the harmful effects of alcohol.  This mouth spray, called “WAHH Quantum Sensations,” is a lipstick-sized aerosol device that dispenses an amount equivalent to .075 ml of alcohol.  The manufacturers claim the rush lasts only a few seconds and quickly wears off.  Click here for ... Read More »