Knoxville DUI Lawyers, Tennessee

Help you combat drunk driving charges  for clients in Knoxville, Maryville, Sevierville, Clinton, Lenoir City, Loudon, and the surrounding area

Sometimes it’s hard to tell when you’ve had too much to drink. You probably felt fine, and you’d never willingly endanger the lives of other people; after all, you know drunk driving is illegal, and you don’t break the law. So we’re willing to bet that those red and blue flashing lights surprised you – and when you realized what was happening, that’s when the fear set in.

Never underestimate the impact that a DUI conviction can have on your life. Not only could you lose your license, but you’ll be fined thousands of dollars, and you may have to go to jail. That’s why you want a Knoxville DUI defense lawyer you can trust. You want an attorney from Banks & Jones. For more than 25 years, we’ve helped people – just like you – by upholding their rights, and fighting for their futures.

T.Scott Jones and his firm have been very professional and pleasant to work with. He is the best at what he does! Would highly recommend.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [Google Review]

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Consequences of DUIs in Tennessee

It is common for drunk drivers to be charged with offenses like reckless driving along with a DUI. This can result in additional penalties besides the already harsh punishments associated with drunk driving. Depending on the circumstances of your case, you could face the following penalties if you are convicted:

  • First offense. For a first-time DUI, you face from 48 hours to 11 months and 29 days in jail. If your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) was over .20, it’s a mandatory 7-day jail sentence. Other penalties include a one-year license revocation, $350 to $1,500 in fines, installation of an ignition interlock device (IID) in your vehicle, and enrollment in a drug and alcohol treatment program.
  • Second offense. If you’re convicted of a second DUI offense, you could receive from 45 days to 11 months and 29 days in jail. You may be required to pay $600 to $3,500 in fines, and your license could be revoked for up to two years. Also, you will be enrolled in a drug treatment program, your vehicle may be seized, and you may have to install an ignition interlock device in your vehicle.
  • Third offense. Third-time offenders face from 120 days to 11 months and 29 days in jail, $1,100 to $10,000 in mandatory fines, license revocation of between six and 10 years, and enrollment in a drug and alcohol treatment program. Your vehicle is subject to seizure, and you may be ordered to install an IID.
  • Fourth and subsequent offenses.Your 4th DUI conviction is a Class E felony. You will be sentenced to 150 consecutive days in jail, but you could be in there for up to a full year. The fines range between $3,000 and $15,000, and you’ll lose your license for 8 years. Your vehicle could be seized, you may be required to have an IID installed, and you will be ordered to attend counseling.

Can you refuse a field sobriety test in Knoxville?

Field sobriety tests are universal: every state in the country uses the same Big Three (the one-leg stand, the walk and turn, and the horizontal gaze Nystagmus test), though there are a small handful of others that might be administered in different towns in Tennessee, and in different states. The purpose of administering a field sobriety test is to help an officer determine if a driver is intoxicated. The truth is you don’t have to take the field sobriety tests. You have every right to refuse.

But if you are like most people, and end up taking the FSTs, don’t panic: it’s well-known that these tests are often inaccurate. Between faulty machinery, human error, and a host of other outside factors, it is entirely possible to have the results of an FST thrown out or kept out of court completely. Many officers rely solely on data collected from FSTs and subsequently detain and arrest citizens who have blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) that are less than the legal limit of .08 percent. If the test is inaccurate, however, then the reason for your arrest may go away, too.

Why Should I Hire an Attorney for a DUI Charge?

What are Tennessee’s implied consent laws?

Now, we know we just said that you can refuse the sobriety tests – and you can. But Tennessee has something called “implied consent,” which means that by virtue of you getting behind the wheel, you’ve given your consent to be tested. So, if you refuse the tests, you’ll still lose your license for 12 months.

So if you’re going to have your license suspended anyway, why not take the test? Simple: if there’s no BAC test, then there’s no concrete proof that you were too impaired to drive. A DUI is a criminal charge; a Breathalyzer test that says you blew a .10 is evidence of the crime. You are innocent until proven guilty; it is the State’s job to prove that you committed a crime. Their job gets much harder if you deny them evidence.

What possible defenses are there to a DUI charge in Knoxville?

There are several types of defenses that criminal defense lawyers assert in DUI cases – depending on what happened. Some of the defenses we assert include:

  • Challenging the admissibility of any statements you made
  • Challenging any evidence that was seized
  • Contesting whether the police had reasonable grounds to stop you
  • Challenging whether the field sobriety tests were given properly
  • Arguing that the blood test or breath test is invalid

What are Tennessee’s DUI laws?

Tennessee statute § 55-10-401 – “Driving under the influence prohibited — Alcohol concentration in blood or breath.”

The laws make it illegal for anyone:

  • “To drive or to be in physical control of any automobile or other motor driven vehicle”
  • “On any of the public roads and highways of the state, or on any streets or alleys, or while on the premises of any shopping center, trailer park, or apartment house complex, or any other premises that is generally frequented by the public at large”
    • While that person is “Under the influence of any:
      • Intoxicant – such as alcohol
      • Marijuana
      • Controlled substance
      • Controlled substance analogue
      • Drug
      • Substance affecting the central nervous system
      • Or a combination thereof”
      • If the substance, “impairs the driver’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle by depriving the driver of the clearness of mind and control of oneself that the driver would otherwise possess.”
    • If the driver’s blood/breath alcohol content (BAC) measures .08 or more
    • If the driver’s BAC is .04 or more and the vehicle is classified as a commercial vehicle.

Note that if your BAC is below .08, you can still be charged with a DUI if the substance renders you incapable of driving.

What is the difference between a DWI and a DUI?

How is underage drinking defined?

There is a zero-tolerance policy for those under the legal drinking age of 21, meaning that even a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .02 percent could result in a DWI charge. If your son or daughter is arrested for underage drinking or for drinking and driving, it is vital that you seek help from a Knoxville DWI attorney as soon as possible. Your child could face a driver’s license suspension of up to one year or until his or her 17th birthday — whichever is longer. And subsequent drinking offenses can result in much harsher penalties. Our attorneys support minors and help them seek penalties that are rehabilitative rather than punitive whenever possible.

Choose skilled criminal law attorneys who help you build a strong DUI defense

Beating a DUI charge requires the counsel of an experienced lawyer from a reputable law firm. At Banks & Jones, we fight aggressively for DUI defendants every day. To find out how we can help you, call our Knoxville DUI defense lawyers, contact us or call 865-546-2141 to schedule an appointment.

We are located within a quarter mile of every major thoroughfare in Knoxville.

Types of Cases We Handle

Our attorneys handle a variety of cases, including:

AssaultDriving under the influenceDrug crimes
Criminal DefenseJuvenile crimesHomicide
RapeReckless drivingRobbery
TheftWhite collar crimesFelonies vs. Misdemeanors
RapeWhite-Collar Crimes

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