Society at large tends to regard drunk driving offenses as dangerous and therefore often insists on harsh penalties for convictions.  Depending on your circumstances and the level of offense, the penalties go from bad to worse.  Recently, punishment for DUI became harsher.  And lobbying groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) push regularly to increase the severity of punishment.

Statistics may be on the lobbyists' side.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) credits the raising of the legal drinking age to 21 with preventing nearly 1,000 deaths annually.  In another study, researchers found that after blood alcohol limits were lowered, the proportion of night time single vehicle fatal crashes in younger drivers dropped 16 percent.

Potential penalties for drunk driving charges
Following are the penalties for the drunk driving offenses per Tennessee DUI laws:

DUI First Offense

Jail—up to 29 days

• Probation—up to 11 months
• Fines—up to $1,500
• One-year license revocation
• Possible community service
• Possible DUI school
• Possible ignition interlock device
• 2nd offense (http://www.tn.gov/safety/duioutline.htm#duisecond) (within 10 years)

Jail—up to 11 months

• Probation—up to 11 months
• Fines—up to $3,500
• Two-year license revocation
• Possible community service
• Treatment program
• Ignition interlock device
• Possible vehicle forfeiture

DUI Third Offense (within ten years)

Jail—up to 11 months

• Probation—up to 11 months
• Fines—up to $10,000
• Three to ten-year license revocation
• Possible community service
• Treatment program
• Ignition interlock device
• Possible vehicle forfeiture

DUI Fourth Offense (within ten years)

Jail—up to six years

• Probation—up to six years
• Fines—up to $15,000
• Five-year minimum license revocation
• Possible community service
• Treatment program
• Ignition interlock device
• Possible vehicle forfeiture
• Class E felony charge

Additionally, the following charges are felonies in Tennessee:

• Vehicular assault—serious injury to another by a DUI driver
• Child endangerment—DUI with passenger under age 13
• Vehicular homicide
• Aggravated vehicular assault while DUI

A conviction in the above felony charges means long prison sentences and a criminal record.

Legal advice for drunk driving offenses
Consult a skilled Memphis DUI law firm to determine your best legal options if you have been charged with drunk driving in Memphis, TN.