Tennessee DUI laws are very stringent, as Nashville DUI lawyers will let you know. When a police officer stops you because he or she thinks that you are drunk, you will be asked to submit to various field sobriety tests. In Tennessee, if you are driving a motor vehicle, it means that you have given your consent to a chemical test to determine your blood alcohol concentration (BAC). If you refuse to take this test, you will face an Implied Consent Violation and it could lead to your driver’s license being revoked.

In Tennessee, your blood alcohol concentration level should not be .08% or higher. If it is, then you will be charged with a DUI offense. You might think that because this is your first offense, you might not face any stiff penalties. However, you are wrong. Any Nashville DUI lawyers will let you know that even the first offense will attract severe penalties.

First Offense

For the first offense under the Tennessee DUI law, the defendant can face a minimum jail sentence of 24 hours to a maximum jail sentence of 11 months. A DUI conviction will lead to your driver’s license being revoked for a year. Plus, you would have to pay a fine of between $350 and $1,500. Besides the fine, you will also have to pay for the lawyer, court costs, towing cost, DUI School and reinstatement fees. This could all add up to $5,000. Your first DUI conviction also means that you will have to attend a DUI school. You might also be required by the court to install an ignition interlock device on your vehicle. You will have to pay for installing this device.

Second Offense

According to Nashville DUI lawyers, your second DUI conviction means even more severe penalties. The second conviction can lead to a fine of $600 to $3,500. Plus, you can also face a jail term of 45 days to 11 months. Plus, your driver’s license will be revoked for a period of two years. However, with the help of a lawyer, you can get a restricted license after one year of your sentence has been served and you have completed court-ordered DUI School. The second conviction also means that your vehicle can be seized by authorities permanently.

Third Offense

A third DUI arrest within ten years of your first arrest can lead to serving a 120-day to 11-month jail term. Plus, you will have to pay a fine of $1,100 to $10,000. The driver’s license is suspended for three to ten years. Moreover, there is no provision for getting a restricted driver’s license. Plus, your vehicle maybe seized permanently.

Fourth Offense

The fourth DUI offense is classified as a Class E felony charge in Tennessee. The fourth DUI conviction will lead to one-year jail term of which 150 days have to be served consecutively. Plus, you will have to pay a fine of $3,000 to $15,000. The driver’s license is suspended for five years and there is no provision for a restricted driver’s license. Your vehicle is subjected to seizure by the authorities.

Even though the penalties for a DUI offense are severe, trained and experienced Nashville DUI lawyers can ensure that you get the best possible outcome for your case.