Tag Archives: Tennessee

Sometimes DUI defense lawyers come across a story that bears repeating–even at the expense of the poor defendant.  A Jonesboro, Arkansas woman crashed her Pontiac Grand Am into the panels beneath a trailer home. The woman, described by the owner of the damaged property as grossly intoxicated, then jumped into a child’s “Power Wheels” truck and tried to drive away.  Ultimately, she was arrested close by at her mother’s house where she registered .217% blood alcohol on a preliminary breath ... Read More »

On January 25, 2013 the Knoxville News Sentinel reported that this month, the Tennessee Department of Safety (TDOS) commenced driver license revocation actions against at least 1,279 people without proper legal justification.  According to this publication, an error occurred when Knox County officials submitted a list to the TDOS of people that had not timely paid their litigation taxes and/or fines (commonly referred to as “court costs”).  After receiving letters from the clerk’s office that noted a failure to pay ... Read More »

New Year’s Eve celebrations are almost upon us.  Alcohol consumption is often an integral part of these celebrations.  As a result, most law enforcement agencies, including the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the Knox County Sheriff’s Department and the Knoxville Police Department plan to increase enforcement during the holiday.   Like the majority of the nation, officers in the state of Tennessee will be conducting sobriety checkpoints (also known as DUI roadblocks) and driver license checkpoints from now through January 1, 2013. In ... 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 »

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 »