Tennessee Criminal Lawyers

New legislation requiring blood draws in some DUI cases is expected to be signed by Governor Bill Haslam sometime soon. It was passed by the legislature despite some critics calling it an infringement on constitutional rights. The new law will go into effect on January 1, 2012 if the Governor signs it like he is expected to. [read more]

More and more, cops are finding the impaired drivers on Tennessee roadways aren’t impaired by alcohol, but drugs. More specifically, the people who are taking to the roadways are under the influence of prescription drugs. We’re obviously not talking about antibiotics here but powerful prescription narcotics and similar substances that are growing in popularity as recreational drugs. [read more]

Attempts to develop alcohol sensing devices to be built into all new vehicles raise huge questions about privacy, civil liberties, and government surveillance and monitoring.

Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee is one of the co-sponsors of a bill to add $60 million in funding to develop these Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS) systems. [read more]

Currently, if convicted of a DUI you can be required to have an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) installed in your vehicle after more than one offense. If Mothers Against Drunk Driving get their way, however, people who refuse to take a breathalyzer will also be required to use the device. [read more]

The Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled that Anonymous phone tips via 911 or drunk driver hotlines are a legitimate reason for the police to stop and pull over a driver on the road. [read more]

In Nashville, DUI arrests are so frequent that the courts are having a hard time keeping up. DUI charges are one of the most common criminal charges in the nation, let alone Tennessee. Like other counties across the country, Davidson County struggles to stay on top of their sea of DUI cases.

According to News Channel 5, last year Nashville Metro Police arrested 5,328 DUI suspects which is nearly a 70% increase since 2004. As the arrests grow, DUI fatalities decrease, proving, the police say, the effectiveness of keeping DUI arrests at the forefront of their objectives.

Oftentimes these DUI cases can take months or even years to make it in front of a judge. These cases are relatively minor and may get bumped or rescheduled to make room for more serious criminal cases. Occasionally, someone waiting on their day in court will get arrested again before they have a chance to get the first case heard. [read more]