Tennessee DUI Laws

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The maximum prescribed legal BAC limit in Tennessee is 0.08% per se
(effective from Jul 1st 2003)

(If you’ve been charged with Tennessee DUI, the law allows 10 days for your Tennessee DUI Lawyer to make a request with the Tennessee Department of Safety for a hearing to save your driving license)

Tennessee DUI Laws and BAC limits

ALL DRIVERS - BAC LIMIT = 0.08%
In the State of Tennessee it is crime for ANY driver to drive with a BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration) of 0.08% and above.

COMMERCIAL DRIVERS - BAC LIMIT = 0.00% - ZERO TOLERANCE
It is a crime for commercial vehicle operators to drive with a BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration) of 0.00% or above.

MINOR (under the age of 21) - BAC LIMIT = 0.02%
It is a crime for persons under 21 years of age to drive with a BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration) of 0.02% or above.

It is a crime to refuse to submit to a chemical test in Tennessee and implied consent laws are enforced.

Tennessee BAC Calculator

BLOOD ALCOHOL CONTENT CALCULATOR Calculate your BAC using our calculator, know your legal drunk driving limits and stay safe!!

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Penalties for DUI - Drunk Driving in Tennessee

Tennessee is a state with a ten-year ‘washout period,’ also known as a 'look back period', this means that a prior conviction is not admissible after ten years. If it is ten years and one day since a driver was convicted of DUI, that driver will be considered a first-time offender. If a driver commits a DUI within ten years of the first DUI, they are considered guilty of a second offense and are subjected to harsher punishments.

First DUI - Drunk Driving Conviction - MISDEMEANOR

The penalty for a first DUI - drunk driving conviction in Tennessee:

• $350 to $1,500 fine
• 48 hours to 7 days in jail
• 1 year drivers license revocation
• attendance at DUI school
• mandatory assessment and treatment
• possible ignition interlock restriction (up to 6 months)
• SR22 insurance requirement

After the first conviction for DUI, provided the driver does not have a prior conviction of DUI, or adult driving while impaired within 10 years, or a prior conviction of vehicular homicide as the proximate result of intoxication aggravated vehicular homicide, or
vehicular assault, the trial judge may issue an order for a restricted license to go to and from work, attend college full time, drive as part of employment or to attend certain
court-ordered events.

Second DUI - Drunk Driving Conviction - MISDEMEANOR

The penalty for a second DUI - drunk driving conviction in Tennessee:

• $600 to $3,500 fine
• 45 days to 11 months and 29 days in jail
• 2 years drivers license revocation
• attendance at DUI school (restricted license available after 1 year on completion)
• mandatory assessment and treatment
• possible seizure or forfeiture of vehicle
• ignition interlock restriction (minimum 6 months - up to 3 years)
• SR22 insurance requirement

Drivers serving a two year revocation, may after serving the first year, apply for a
restricted driver license provided that an ignition interlock device is installed on the motor vehicle for the remaining period of revocation. When applying at the driver license
station, these applicants must submit two (2) copies of the court order and proof of insurance (SR-22 from their insurance company), and pass all appropriate tests.

Third DUI - Drunk Driving Conviction - Misdemeanor

The penalty for a third DUI - drunk driving conviction in Tennessee:

• $1,100 to $10,000 fine
• 120 days to 11 months and 29 days in jail
• 3 to 10 years drivers license revocation (no restricted license allowed)
• mandatory assessment and treatment
• possible seizure or forfeiture of vehicle
• ignition interlock restriction (minimum 6 months - up to 10 years)
• SR22 insurance requirement

Fourth DUI - Drunk Driving Conviction - Felony

The penalty for a fourth DUI - drunk driving conviction in Tennessee:

• $3,000 to $15,000 fine
• 150 days in jail
• 5 years to indefinite drivers license revocation (no restricted license allowed)
• possible seizure or forfeiture of vehicle
• ignition interlock restriction (minimum 6 months - up to 10 years)
• SR22 insurance requirement

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Implied consent LAWS

It is a crime to refuse to submit to a chemical test in Tennessee and implied consent laws are enforced.

Penalties for refusing to submit to a chemical test in Tennessee

In Tennessee, if the accused refuses to take a chemical test of their blood, breath or urine, their drivers license will be suspended/revoked.

First chemical test refusal

• 1 years drivers license suspension

Second Chemical Test Refusal

• 2 years drivers license suspension

You may still be convicted of a DUI without a blood, breath or urine sample.

A driver whose license has been suspended by the court for Implied Consent may apply to the trial judge for a restricted license to operate a motor vehicle for going to and from work, full-time college and working at his or her regular place of employment. At the time of application, two (2) copies of a court order and proof of SR-22 insurance must be submitted.

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Tennessee SR22 insurance (High Risk DUI SR22 Insurance)

Tennessee auto insurance quotes ENTER ZIP CODE:

Tennessee SR-22 auto insurance can be required for a period of up to 5 years after a DUI - drunk driving - alcohol related driving conviction and can be very expensive if you go with the wrong provider. However if the SR22 is filed for a total of 3 years (36 months) within the 5 year period then the SR22 requirement can be cancelled providing it is not required for any other offence. If 5 years pass from the date of suspension before you reinstate your privileges, then the SR-22 would not be required.

Get a FREE SR22 DUI auto insurance quote and compare rates to find the best deal, simply enter your ZIP code above and you can be comparing prices for Tennessee auto insurance in a matter of minutes.

Minimum liability insurance requirements for private passenger vehicles in the state of Tennessee

The minimum mandatory liability insurance coverage required in the state of Tennessee for private passenger vehicles is (25/50/15). This equates to the following liability coverage:

• $25,000 bodily injury liability (BIL) per person
• $50,000 for two or more people in one accident
• $15,000 property damage liability (PDL) coverage

What is (BIL) Bodily Injury Liability insurance?

(BIL) Bodily Injury Liability insurance coverage will pay for serious and permanent injury or death to other people when a crash is caused by the insured. An auto insurance company will pay for injuries up to the limits specified in an insurance policy and will provide legal representation for the insured in the event someone tries to sue them.

What is (PDL) Property Damage Liability insurance?

(PDL) Property Damage Liability insurance coverage pays for damages an insured driver or members of an insured drivers family cause (and are liable for) to other people's property in a crash involving a motor vehicle.

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FREE DUI / DWI Case evaluation & by local Tennessee Lawyer

OR

Protect your rights! Talk to a local DUI lawyer Tennessee DUI cases tend to move quickly through the system, and there may be important deadlines that affect your right to assert certain defenses or call witnesses. It’s important that you understand the process your Tennessee drunk driving case will follow and the important requirements and deadlines before you take any action—but you can’t afford to delay. Talk to a local Tennessee Drunk Driving Attorney as soon as possible to gather important information such as: • What penalties do you face if convicted of DUI in Tennessee? • What are the indirect penalties, such as increased insurance rates and diminished job opportunities in Tennessee? • Does Tennessee have a mandatory ignition interlock device law? • Was your breathalyzer or blood alcohol content (BAC) test properly administered in accordance with Tennessee laws and procedures ? • When and how can you get your driver’s license reinstated in Tennessee? It’s easy to make mistakes under pressure, so make sure that you have the information you need to make good, educated decisions during this process. Contact a local Tennessee criminal defense attorney specialising in Tennessee drunk driving laws today.

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Disclaimer: While every effort is made to keep all information up to date, the Tennessee drunk driving laws change frequently and the information provided should not be construed as legal advice. Drinkdriving.org shall not be held responsible for any actions a person may take as a result of information gathered from this web site. Consultation with a local Tennessee DUI lawyer is recommended in all cases.

Useful Tennessee DUI Links:

DUI - Drunk Driving Laws in Tennessee

Tennessee Drivers Manual

Tennessee SR22 Insurance Requirement

Tennessee Department of Safety

Tennessee Department of Transport

Tennessee Department of Insurance

Tennessee Courts

Tennessee DUI Lawyers

Tennessee DUI discussion forum

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