Author: Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers
Language of TN DUI law could result in unexpected charge
Don’t drink and drive. That’s an admonition we hear regularly in Tennessee — perhaps more so at this holiday time of year. But it isn’t just drinking and driving that people need to concerned about to avoid the possibility of being charged with driving under the influence. You see, because of the wording of the
What is a citation in lieu of arrest?
It might not sound quite as bad as being arrested, but being presented with a citation in lieu of arrest is something that should be taken seriously. If you have received one, you should be contacting an experienced attorney to understand what to expect from the legal system and what your options may be. For
Science of estimating earlier drunkenness worth questioning
If you choose to drink, hopefully you don’t drink and drive. The risks that anyone in Tennessee faces from such behavior are something that is hammered home on a regular basis. If you drink and drive, you pose a threat to yourself and others on the road. Social outrage at the injuries and loss of
States challenged to find ways to test for drugged drivers
Medical marijuana is beginning to be accepted in more and more states. Not in Tennessee. In some states even recreational use of marijuana is now allowed. Not in Tennessee. If you are stopped and are suspected of driving impaired by marijuana, you could be arrested and charged. The movement toward legalization of marijuana means that
Test for line-crossing traffic stops now a little clearer
A few months ago, we made note that the Tennessee Supreme Court would be hearing a couple of cases involving motorists charged with driving under the influence. At issue in these cases is whether a single instance of a vehicle getting near to or crossing either the centerline or the fog line on a road
Once convicted, Tennessee DUI record never goes away
There’s a reason we don’t write too much under the Expungement category for this blog. It’s because under Tennessee law, expungement isn’t an option in drunk driving cases. It might be for some crimes, but even if the conviction is your first offense and a misdemeanor impaired driving charge, the law does not allow an
If I pass a breath test I’m off the hook, right?
For most Tennessee drivers, there are few things as scary as being pulled over by the police and being asked to submit to a breath test. If you’ve been drinking, even a little bit, you have no idea what the result might be. Even if you haven’t been drinking, if the device the officer uses
TN license revocation can create hard-to-escape debt whirlpool
There are plenty of situations that can lead to a person having a driver’s license revoked. As we noted in a post in January, a first-time charge of driving under the influence can result in steep fines and significant jail time. And then there’s the separate process under which the Tennessee Department of Safety revokes your
The magic numbers of DUI
Many police officers are very professional and work hard to perform their job well. But, in the real world, some are better than others. When a driver is stopped in Chattanooga on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, the officer can carefully note the condition of the driver, their behavior, their competency in
The standard, after all, is reasonable doubt
When the police arrest a driver and charge them with a DUI, the unstated premise that many people accept is that they must be guilty. After all, they were arrested and the police would not arrest someone who is not guilty? Right? Sadly, this is not always the case. Sometimes the police make mistakes. Sometimes