TN DUI penalties will differ in each case, depending on particular facts and circumstances. This summary of first offense DUI penalties is intended to be general in nature. Additional penalties exist, and therefore the information on this web page should not be relied upon without individual consultation with a well-qualified DUI attorney in Tennessee.
DUI First Offense – Sentence is 11 months, 29 days
Details
| Jail Time | Mandatory 48 hours to 11 months, 29 days, or minimum increases to 7 days if blood alcohol concentration is .15% or higher |
| Probationary Period | 11 months, 29 days less the time spent in jail |
| Fine | $350 – $1500 |
| Highway Litter Removal | May be ordered by the court |
| DUI Assessment | Mandatory alcohol and drug addiction fee of $100.00 |
| DUI School/Alcohol Rehabilitation | Mandatory DUI School or Victim Impact Panel (often sponsored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving) |
| Volunteer Community Work | May be ordered by the court |
| License Revocation | 1 year; eligible for restricted license if meet all other qualifications |
| Ignition Interlock Device | Mandatory unless the court makes a specific finding that an IID is not required in a particular case. IID required for 365 consecutive days or for entire period of license revocation, whichever is longer. |
| Vehicle Forfeiture | Not authorized; except for unusual circumstances |
| Monitoring | May be ordered by the court. E.g., transdermal or alternative alcohol or drug monitoring device, electronic monitoring device, or GPS monitoring device. |
Featured Posts
March 25, 2025
Tennessee Drivers’ Licenses May Go Electronic
Tennessee Senate Bill 1297 was introduced this year proposing to allow Tennesseans to use Digital Driver’s Licenses (DDLs) as a valid form of identification wherever an ID is legally required, except for voting. The DDLs would allow Tennesseans to download an […]
Read More
February 26, 2025
Potential Change in Legislation for Providing Proof of Registration to Law Enforcement
When a driver is pulled over in Tennessee for any reason, the normal request from law enforcement is: “Please provide me with your driver’s license, insurance, and proof of registration.” If you are like this author, digging through your glovebox […]
Read MoreFebruary 17, 2025
Domestic Violence/Domestic Assault/Domestic Abuse Definitions
Domestic Violence/Domestic Assault/Domestic Abuse Definitions We are often asked about the difference between an assault (sometimes referred to as a “simple” assault), and a domestic abuse assault. This is an important distinction in the law because there are different bond […]
Read MoreContact
Office
Oberman & Rice
550 Main Street
Suite 730
Knoxville, TN 37902
Phone Number
(865) 249-7200
(865) 540-1696 (fax)
GPS Coordinates
Long: 35.970504
Lat: -83.914776
Useful Links
contact us today for a free consultation
We reply to non-urgent after-hours requests for consultation within 24 hours. For after-hour emergencies, please call us at (865) 249-7200.