One of the topmost causes of road accidents is drunk drivers or those who are under the influence of a drug or other forms of intoxicants. That is why it is mandatory that adverts for alcoholic beverages state that one must not drink and drive.
DUI, which means Driving under the Influence, is a serious offense in any part of the country. However, the consequences differ from one state to the other. In fact, the definition of this term also has slight differences in interpretation in different states.
In Tennessee for example, the law that covers DUI is quite broad. This law states that it is illegal for anyone to physically control or drive an automobile or any type of vehicle under the influence of any intoxicant, whether on a highway, public road, alley, or street.
Other places covered by this law include trailer parks, shopping centers, apartment buildings, and any place where people can be found on a regular basis.
One is said to be intoxicated when they are under the influence of narcotic drugs, marijuana, or any drug or medication that stimulates the central nervous system. Another condition that qualifies for a DUI offense is if there is over .08% alcohol concentration in a person’s blood.
In this article, we will explain how to handle a DUI case, especially one that involves the suspension of license for an underage driver.
Understanding of DUI in Tennessee
DUI law in Tennessee strictly prohibits drivers who are less than 21 years old from physically operating or handling any type of automobile or vehicle with even the tiniest bit of alcohol in their blood. We mentioned earlier that the alcohol limit for a driver in Tennessee is .08%. That is the general rule for legal adults who can drink in public.
However, persons under 21 years of age have a stricter restriction, which is a .02% blood alcohol or higher. This means that anyone under 21 is not even expected to have any alcohol in their system while driving or operating any type of automobile.
If such a person (considered under age) is convicted, they stand the risk of an automatic loss of their driving privileges for one year without being eligible for a restricted license.
There are a lot of other DUI-related offenses and consequences that every driver in the state of Tennessee should know about. These specifics might apply only to Tennessee so you need to find out the specificity of this law in your own state of residence. You can visit this site for a full list of the offenses and consequences.
Tips for Handling under Age DUI in Franklin, Tennessee
Sometimes, a driver’s license might be suspended on the spot for DUI; in that case, the driver has no choice but to go through the legal process of reinstatement. However, in other cases, the driver would have to go through a trial, and then, if convicted, their license would be suspended.
In some cases, there are also additional fines ranging from $250 to $1,500 depending on the age and the level of intoxication or damage done. Furthermore, community service sentences may also be given to the defaulting driver.
if you are lucky to be in the category of drivers who didn’t have their license suspended immediately, there are a few ways that you can successfully navigate the charges, and they are as follows:-
- Challenge the reason why you were stopped in the first place. This means that the law enforcement officer must prove that there was probable cause to have stopped you in the first place. If they are unable to prove that there was enough reason to have pulled you over, the prosecution’s argument can be weakened significantly.
- Challenge the Field sobriety test. It can be argued that these tests were affected by physical factors or environmental conditions and, as such, were not accurate.
- Contact a lawyer.
Benefits of Legal Representation in a DUI Case
In as much as you can engage the first 2 tips shared above, it will be daunting without legal representation. It is in your best interest to get a lawyer, and the benefits are stated below:
- Personalized legal advice that is specific to your case.
- A thorough investigation of events leading to the arrest.
- Questioning of any procedural irregularities or evidence.
- Advocacy and negotiation on your behalf with the prosecution.
- Legal representation in the event of a court proceeding.
Conclusion
While it is best not to get into a DUI case, circumstances may prevail to get a person into one (click here for tips on how to prevent drunk driving). When this happens, it is recommended that you contact a lawyer, and we have already listed the benefits of doing so.
Ensure that you get a lawyer or law firm that operates in the same state where the incident occurred. This is because of the variations in DUI laws in different states and regions. Getting off with a lighter sentence may depend on your legal representation, so don’t joke about it.
