| Tennessee law spells out a variety of penalties for DUI | | | | A fourth offense and every offense thereafter is |
| offenders. First, second and third DUI offenses are all | | | | considered a Class E felony. The minimum jail time for |
| misdemeanors, but with greater possibilities for | | | | a fourth offense DUI is 150 days. Your fine can range |
| punishment. The fourth DUI and above is considered a | | | | from $3,000 to $15,000 and you will lose your license |
| felony offense. Penalties in addition to jail time become | | | | for 5 years, with no opportunity to obtain a restricted |
| more severe as well. | | | | one to travel to work or school. As with a second and |
| Even for a first offender, the minimum penalties include | | | | third offense, you must attend DUI school, could have |
| jail time. A first time offender can expect to spend a | | | | your vehicle forfeited and could be ordered to install an |
| minimum of 48 hours in jail. If you offer a blood or | | | | ignition interlock device on your vehicle. |
| breath test, and your blood alcohol content is over 0.20, | | | | Additional punishments can be levied if someone is |
| the minimum jail sentence is 7 days, which must be | | | | killed due to a DUI driver, or if a child is injured who is |
| served consecutively. You will have to attend a DUI | | | | under the age of 13. Additionally, there are penalties for |
| school and will owe court costs (which vary depending | | | | not submitting to a blood alcohol test that can range |
| on your case) and pay a minimum $350 fine. You also | | | | from 1 to 5 years loss of license, depending on the |
| lose your license for one year and could be ordered to | | | | circumstances and one's prior record. The implied |
| put an ignition interlock device on your car. The court | | | | consent law is a civil penalty, however, and does not |
| can also order drug and alcohol treatment if there is | | | | carry with it any potential jail time. The interlock device |
| indication you have a substance abuse problem. | | | | will not allow the car to start until the driver blows into |
| If you are convicted of a second DUI, the penalties are | | | | it, confirming he or she has not had anything to drink. It |
| enhanced even further. A minimum 45 day jail | | | | usually costs several hundred dollars a year to |
| sentence is required, as well as an increase in the | | | | maintain, and that cost is borne by the offender. |
| minimum fine from $350 to $600. You lose your | | | | First through third DUI offenses are all misdemeanors, |
| license for two years, and cannot obtain a restricted | | | | but all can carry up to 11 months and 29 days in jail. So, |
| one until after the first year. Like a first offense, DUI | | | | the minimums above are not necessarily the |
| school is required. Additionally you could have your | | | | sentences always imposed. Prosecutors and judges |
| vehicle forfeited and an interlock ignition device could | | | | look to the history of the defendant, as well as the |
| be ordered installed on your vehicle. | | | | facts surrounding the charge, when determining what |
| A third offense DUI gets even more severe. Though | | | | sentence to offer or impose. The minimum offenses |
| still a misdemeanor, the penalties closely mirror that of | | | | are welcome if one is truly guilty, but they are not |
| the more serious felony fourth DUI offense. A third | | | | required to be offered by the state. Sometimes, if the |
| offense DUI carries a minimum of 120 days in jail. You | | | | facts are in one's favor, the amended charge of |
| lose your license for 3 to 10 years, with no prospect of | | | | Reckless Driving, which is a Class B misdemeanor, can |
| receiving a restricted license. As with a second | | | | be negotiated. However, Reckless Driving is not a |
| offense, you must attend DUI school and can have | | | | lesser charge of DUI and cannot be instructed at trial. |
| your car forfeited. The minimum fine amount is $1100. | | | | |