Retaining the Right Tennessee DUI Attorney
Finding the right Tennessee DUI attorney is vital if you are charged with a DUI in the state of Tennessee.
A DUI conviction can have serious consequences, even if you have never been in trouble before. Like many states, Tennessee DUI laws have been amended to make consequences harsher for all levels of offender. Conviction for a DUI first carries mandatory jail time, alcohol safety school, potential community service, loss of your driver license for one year, and the possible installation of an ignition interlock device on your car. After the first conviction, things get even worse. A second DUI carries a minimum of 45 days in jail, a third DUI requires a minimum of 120 days, and a fourth DUI will result in at least 150 days in jail, not to mention a felony conviction on your record. It is especially easier now to get charged with a DUI since the legal blood alcohol limit is now 0.08, and the Tennessee DWI has been taken off the books.
An experienced Tennessee DUI lawyer can help you avoid some of the more unpleasant aspects of a DUI conviction. Only an attorney thoroughly familiar with Tennessee DUI law can ensure your rights are protected and mitigate the more inconvenient aspects of a DUI conviction. For instance, an ignition interlock device, which requires that you blow into it before you start your car and periodically thereafter, is not a requirement of Tennessee law. This is an aspect of your defense that can be negotiated by a skilled DUI attorney. Often, people are pulled over for invalid reasons that make your arrest unconstitutional. In cases where the evidence against you is slight, a DUI charge can sometimes be reduced to reckless driving or dismissed. For this and many reasons, an experienced DUI attorney is the best weapon to have on your side.
There are many things you can do that will help your DUI defense. There is no requirement that you offer evidence against yourself. Often times people are pulled over for simple things, like having a headlight or tail light out, a tag expired, or for speeding just over the legal speed limit. None of those things can be taken to infer that you were driving under the influence. Because the traffic stop is often not enough to obtain a conviction, there is no benefit that you tell the officer how much alcohol you may have consumed, that you perform a breath test, or undergo field sobriety tests, like standing on one leg, saying the alphabet backwards, or touching your fingers to your nose. Many people cannot even pass those tests sober, so there is seldom a benefit to giving the wrong impression.
Just because you may have offered evidence yourself, it does not mean you cannot be defended. If you have offered evidence against yourself, it is vital that you have an experienced and well-trained Tennessee DUI attorney on your side, who is familiar with Tennessee DUI law and the tendencies of the court where you have been arrested. The Tennessee DUI lawyer you hire might be the most important decision you ever make.
Nathan Moore is a criminal defense and DUI attorney in Tennessee. His practice focuses only on criminal defense and those charged with crimes. To learn more about his practice you can go to his firm website. If you are interested in learning more about Tennessee DUI law or if you are charged with a DUI, you can find more information at his DUI defense page.