Tennessee Appeals Court Rules Some DUI Fees Unconstitutional

In early February, the Tennessee court of appeals made a decision that could affect many people charged with driving under the influence (DUI). The ruling, State of Tennessee v. Rosemary L. Decosimo, stated that Tennessee’s law requiring that every person convicted of a DUI via blood or breath tests pay a $250 fee to the…

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Court Monitoring for Drunk Driving Cases in Tennessee

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) initiated its court monitoring program in 2006. Volunteers attend the judicial proceedings for drunk driving cases to make sure that the law is being enforced and prosecuted. Volunteers attend the judicial proceedings for drink driving cases and they document every step of the judicial process. Court monitoring is currently going…

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Tips for Avoiding a DUI This Holiday

As the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, we tend to start gathering for the holidays. For many, that means get-togethers, dinners, and parties with food and alcohol. It sometimes feels like a nonstop party from November to January and, unsurprisingly, DUI arrests are highest between Thanksgiving and New Year’s weekend. Thanksgiving Eve…

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A Field Guide to Tennessee Sobriety Checkpoints

DUI checkpoints, or sobriety checkpoints, are on the rise in Tennessee. Police officers will section off part of an intersection or roadway in order to slowly filter cars through in a line. Legally, officers can check any car in the line for sobriety or a suspicion of drunk driving. When you are pulled over at…

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DUI by Consent in Tennessee a Risk for Vehicle Owners

You don’t have to be driving under the influence to be arrested for your first, second, or third DUI in Tennessee. If you’ve let someone drive your vehicle who is knowingly intoxicated, state law provides for charging car owners with a DUI by consent (also called DUI by proxy). Most of the time, DUI by…

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Don’t Get a Day-After-DUI in Tennessee

When you’ve been drinking, you know it’s unsafe and not smart to get behind the wheel. Most people who imbibe know they should never drive after alcohol-related festivities. To be sure, many law abiding Tennesseans have done their best during a night of drinking: they have enlisted a designated driver, or decided to stay in…

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Tennessee DUIs and Mandatory Blood Draws

In June of last year, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that mandatory warrantless blood draws at DUI stops are unconstitutional and too intrusive. Although police can still mandate onsite breathalyzers without a warrant, warrantless searches are generally only intended for extraordinary circumstances. Blood draws at DUI stops do not fall under this…

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Busted at Bonnaroo? Better Call a Lawyer

Great music, great people, and good times—that’s what Bonnaroo is known for nationwide. People flock to Coffee County and Middle Tennessee each year to enjoy themselves and experience one of the country’s premier music festivals. In recent years, however, Bonnaroo’s patrons have been under increasing scrutiny from law enforcement officials looking to make quick arrests…

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Are Tennessee Field Sobriety Tests Reliable?

No one likes to see flashing lights in their rearview mirror when driving on the highway. And if you’ve been speeding, or have disobeyed some traffic law, you can feel even worse. But what happens when an officer asks if you’ve been drinking? It can be alarming to hear the words, “Step out of the…

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What Your Third DUI Means in Tennessee

Driving Under the Influence (DUI) in Tennessee can mean complicated legal battles, negotiation with authorities, and even some mandatory punishments. If you’ve had previous DUIs, you know there are associated fines, other penalties, and mandatory jail time (the length of which can depend on your blood alcohol content at the time of arrest). DUI offenses…

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Drinking in an Uber is Legal in Tennessee, but is it Smart?

Despite Tennessee’s strict penalties for DUI for drivers who are caught drinking and driving, drinking is perfectly legal for passengers. There are ten states in the United States that allow the consumption of alcohol inside of a vehicle, and Tennessee is one of them. These states allow passengers to drink from open containers of alcohol…

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Bonnaroo: What to Bring and What You Should Leave at Home

As the opening day for Bonnaroo 2017 approaches, we wanted to share a bit of information about our local music festival, along with some tips that will help those who attend the festival make the most of their visit. First, let’s start with the basics. The Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival will take place June…

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NHTSA Pushes Controversial Alcohol Detection Technology for All Cars

Alcohol-impaired driving is a national problem that is unnecessarily costing the lives of thousands of people each year. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) has made a commitment to funding the study of technology that promises to end drunk driving. Called the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS), The NHTSA wants to have…

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How Might the New DUI Laws in Tennessee Affect You?

In the summer of 2016 (July 1, 2016, to be exact) there were four new DUI laws that took effect in Tennessee. One of those laws, which was intended to change the age group to which the offense of underage driving while impaired from ages 16-21-years-old, to ages 16-18-years old, and it was to give…

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Tips for Avoiding a DUI & Staying Safe on Labor Day

At several different times during a year, Tennessee law enforcement conducts sobriety checkpoints in an effort to deter drunk drivers from endangering themselves and others by driving drunk. With Labor Day approaching, there will be parties and barbeques and sporting events celebrating the last official weekend of summer. People will be serving and drinking alcohol…

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