Act Now To Protect Your Driving Privileges And Your Record After A DUI Arrest

At The Law Office of Jeffrey Jones, we can go to work for you immediately. We defend your rights, work to suppress evidence and begin building a case to prevent a conviction.

Attorney Jeffrey H. Jones has defended thousands of people who have faced drunk driving charges in the Memphis area or West Tennessee over the past 45 years. As an experienced DUI defense lawyer, Mr. Jones can confidently defend your case in any Tennessee court.

We Take DUI Cases To Trial When Warranted

Other lawyers rarely take DUI defense cases to trial, but we will try the case if it is in our clients’ best interests. We will do whatever it takes to achieve your best possible outcome, protect your driving privileges, keep you out of jail and protect your reputation.

We have successfully defended people who were arrested with two to three times the legal limit of blood alcohol content (BAC). Mr. Jones has successfully suppressed the evidence against our clients for lack of probable cause and other improper law enforcement procedures in numerous cases.

DUI Penalties In Tennessee

Your driver’s license is not immediately suspended upon arrest. However, if you are convicted of DUI, you will lose your license. You may also receive other penalties for a DUI conviction, including the following:

• Mandatory jail time
• Probation
• Fines that can amount to thousands of dollars
• Community service
• DUI assessment at your expense
• Driver’s license revocation
• Restricted license if no bodily injury or death was involved in your case
• Possible vehicle forfeiture
• Ignition interlock device at your expense
• Alcohol safety and DUI school or victim impact panel
• Rehabilitation program at the judge’s discretion

The severity of each of the penalties listed depends on the number of DUI convictions you have had in the last 10 years and the unique circumstances of your case.

Additional consequences that could result from conviction include:

• Negative impact on future job and education opportunities, since many employers ask applicants to confirm their criminal history and run background checks, which often influences their decision to hire
• Increased auto insurance premiums or policy cancellation (SR-22 insurance premiums), which can cost a driver hundreds of dollars over the months and years of the policy
• Possible loss of professional license (e.g., nurses, doctors, pharmacists, pilots, commercial drivers, lawyers and others), as employers may consider a DUI a potential liability or a blemish to the business’s reputation
  • We can defend you in administrative hearings to avoid the risk of losing your professional license in the first place.
  • We will work to help you recover your credentials if you have already been penalized professionally.
• A tarnished reputation which can impact your ability to gain future employment and even impact your overall earning potential
• Loss of rights to buy or possess firearms, as a felony charge, prohibits the convicted from buying them
• Travel restrictions outside the U.S., such as Canada
• Inability to rent a vehicle, as renters may consider your DUI a liability toward their vehicles

Implied Consent And Refusing Breathalyzer Tests

Tennessee is a state that has “implied consent” laws, which mean that when a person decides to drive their car, they automatically consent to traffic stops, breathalyzer tests and blood tests. A driver does have the right to refuse these tests, although a first refusal will likely result in license suspension for a year, and a second refusal can result in a suspension of two years. Taking the test and consulting with an attorney may be a better option for most drivers, as they can fight the test results in court.

Answers To Frequently Asked Questions About DUI Charges

Below, we’ve answered some of the questions most often asked by prospective clients.

Can a lawyer help me beat a DUI charge in Tennessee?

Yes, a lawyer can help you fight a DUI charge and, depending on the facts of the case, they can potentially secure an acquittal or get the case dismissed. An experienced attorney can examine the details of your case, challenge the evidence against you, and develop a defense strategy tailored to your situation. This might involve questioning the legality of the traffic stop, the accuracy of breathalyzer tests, or the procedures followed by law enforcement. While no outcome can be guaranteed, having legal representation significantly increases your chances of achieving a more favorable result.

What are my rights when pulled over by police?

When you are pulled over by police in Tennessee, you have several important rights. You have the right to remain silent, which means you don’t have to answer any questions that might incriminate you. You also have the right to ask why you were stopped. Additionally, you have the right to refuse a search of your vehicle unless the officer has a warrant or probable cause. It’s important to be polite and cooperative, but remember that you can request to speak with an attorney before answering any questions.

What happens if I refuse a breathalyzer test?

If you refuse a breathalyzer test in Tennessee, you may face immediate consequences under the state’s implied consent law. Those laws and refusal penalties are discussed earlier on this page.

Will I go to jail if it’s my first DUI conviction?

If you are convicted of a first-time DUI offense in Tennessee, jail time is a possibility. The law mandates a minimum of 48 hours in jail, which can increase to seven days if your blood alcohol content (BAC) was .20% or higher. The maximum jail time for a first DUI conviction in Tennessee is 11 months and 29 days. Other penalties can include fines, license suspension, and mandatory participation in a DUI education program.

How long does a DUI stay on my criminal record in Tennessee?

A DUI conviction in Tennessee stays on your criminal record permanently. Unlike some other offenses, a DUI cannot be expunged, which means it will always appear on background checks conducted by employers, landlords and other entities. This underscores the importance of taking a DUI charge seriously and seeking legal assistance to potentially mitigate the impact on your life.

Seek Strong DUI Defense Now

Jeffrey Jones represents clients in criminal proceedings and Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security seizure hearings. Please call our Bartlett office at +1-901-410-5751​ to schedule a consultation with us. You may also contact us online.

We are responsive days, nights and on weekends. Let us hear from you and explain how we can help right away.