Top 5 Issues With DUI Blood Draws in Tennessee
When someone is arrested for DUI in Tennessee and the State has a blood test showing an elevated blood alcohol concentration, it can seem like the case is already decided. However, a blood alcohol result is only one piece of evidence. Before that number ever appears on a laboratory report, someone has to collect the […]
How Do Criminal Charges Affect Gun Rights in Tennessee?
Criminal charges can affect a person’s gun rights in Tennessee even before a conviction, but the consequences depend on the charge, the stage of the case, and any court orders involved. A pending charge may interfere with purchasing or receiving a firearm, while bond conditions or an order of protection may prohibit possession. A conviction […]
How Police Observations Can Impact a DUI Case in Tennessee
When a police officer suspects someone of driving under the influence in Tennessee, the case often begins with observations. An officer may notice how a person is driving, how they are walking toward a vehicle, where they are coming from, or how they speak and behave during a traffic stop. Those observations can influence whether […]
Arrested vs. Detained in Tennessee: What’s the Difference?
If a police officer tells you, “You’re not under arrest, but you’re not free to leave,” you may wonder what that actually means. Are you being detained? Have you effectively been arrested? And does the distinction matter for your rights? Under Tennessee law, not every encounter with law enforcement is the same. Police may speak […]
What Parents Should Know If Their College Student Is Facing Criminal Charges in Tennessee
A criminal charge can threaten far more than a college student’s freedom or driving privileges. It may also affect enrollment, campus housing, scholarships, disciplinary standing, internships, professional programs, and future career opportunities. In Tennessee, students may face both a criminal court case and a separate college disciplinary process arising from the same incident. Understanding how […]
What Are The 3 Field Sobriety Tests In Tennessee?
When a police officer suspects a driver may be impaired, the officer will often request a series of roadside exercises known as field sobriety tests. These exercises are commonly used in DUI investigations throughout Knoxville and East Tennessee. The three standardized field sobriety tests are the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test, the Walk-and-Turn test, and the […]
How Tennessee’s DUI Lookback Period Works
Many people charged with a second or third DUI in Tennessee ask the same question: How far back can the State go? They may have a DUI from more than a decade ago, a conviction from another state, or an offense listed under a different name (such as DWI, OUI, or OWI) and assume it […]
Rising BAC in Tennessee DUI Cases: Can BAC Rise After a Stop?
When someone is arrested for DUI in Tennessee, the breath or blood test result often becomes one of the most important pieces of evidence in the case. But when that test is taken can be just as important as what the test says. Blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, changes over time. After a person drinks, […]
From Dinner With Your Children To A Minimum Of 32 Days In Jail
After a long week at work, you decide to celebrate the weekend with a nice dinner out with your family. At dinner, you consume a couple alcoholic beverages, enjoy some laughs and good conversation, begin your drive home, then you look back to see your child laughing when suddenly you observe blue lights behind your […]
Reasonable Suspicion vs Probable Cause in Tennessee Traffic Stops
A Tennessee traffic stop can begin with something that seems minor: drifting near the fog line, failing to signal, speeding, or having a brake light out. But once an officer turns on the blue lights, that brief roadside encounter can quickly become much more serious. A routine stop may lead to DUI questioning, field sobriety […]
