Sarah Edwards is a seasoned legal writer with more than a decade of experience. Edwards has a deep understanding of advanced legal concepts and a knack for conveying complex topics in simple language. She currently resides in Southern California with her husband and two children.
Sarah Edwards
Sarah Edwards is a seasoned legal writer with more than a decade of experience. Edwards has a deep understanding of advanced legal concepts and a knack for conveying complex topics in simple language. She currently resides in Southern California with her husband and two children.
Adam has resided at the intersection of legal and journalism for two decades. An award-winning journalist and legal strategist, he’s covered high-profile trials in Florida.
After law school, Adam and spent two years clerking for a U.S. District Court judge. He researched and wrote legal precedent in published opinions on behalf of the Court.
He has been an editor, columnist and journalist at the Miami Herald, The Dallas Morning News, The Oregonian, Golf Digest, FindLaw.com and other media outlets.
He lived in Colombia and Argentina teaching legal English to attorneys and law students. He is also a Spanish-language subject matter expert.
An avid waterman, he surfs and scuba dives frequently.
Reviewed
Adam Ramirez, J.D.
Adam has resided at the intersection of legal and journalism for two decades. An award-winning journalist and legal strategist, he’s covered high-profile trials in Florida.
After law school, Adam and spent two years clerking for a U.S. District Court judge. He researched and wrote legal precedent in published opinions on behalf of the Court.
He has been an editor, columnist and journalist at the Miami Herald, The Dallas Morning News, The Oregonian, Golf Digest, FindLaw.com and other media outlets.
He lived in Colombia and Argentina teaching legal English to attorneys and law students. He is also a Spanish-language subject matter expert.
An avid waterman, he surfs and scuba dives frequently.
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
Nashville is a city known for live music and some of the best music clubs in the United States. While these are great places to have fun, most of these venues serve alcohol, and many people drive to them.
This is just one of many situations that can result in drunk driving. If you are arrested for driving under the influence, this list of the best DUI lawyers in Nashville can help you fight those charges.
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Best DUI Attorneys in Nashville
Compare Top DUI Attorneys
DUI Laws in Tennessee
Tennessee has relatively strict DUI laws compared to other states. While the standards for being charged with a DUI are nearly identical to most other states, the penalties are typically more severe.
Legal Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) in Tennessee
The legal BAC in Tennessee is 0.07 or less. Anyone driving with a BAC of 0.08 or higher is driving under the influence (DUI). There is only one exception to this rule. If the driver is under 21 years old, they are guilty of a DUI if their BAC is 0.02 or higher. Effectively, this means that if someone under 21 years old has had any alcohol, it is illegal for them to drive a car.
Furthermore, if someone is convicted of a DUI and their BAC is 0.2 or higher, they may face more serious penalties than the normal penalties for driving under the influence. These enhanced penalties apply when the driver injures someone, kills someone, or drives drunk with a child in the car.
Implied Consent Laws in Tennessee
Implied consent laws are one of the ways that Tennessee DUI laws are harsher than other states. In Tennessee, if you are arrested for a DUI, the police officer can demand you submit to a breath test or get a warrant for a blood test. If you refuse either test, your license will be revoked for at least a year, regardless of whether you are convicted of a DUI or not.
Furthermore, if you resist the blood test, you can also be charged with a misdemeanor offense. Again, even if the DUI charge is dropped, you can be convicted of this charge.
DUI Penalties in Tennessee
Assuming there are no parallel charges (e.g., vehicular homicide), DUI penalties in Tennessee are based on how many times you have previously been convicted of a DUI. One of the rules that makes Tennessee penalties so harsh is that even the first offense mandates at least 48 hours in jail.
Another notably serious consequence is how long the state revokes your license. It is relatively forgiving for the first two offenses. But after that, revocation terms are some of the longest of any state.
| Offense | Jail Time | Fines | Length of License Revocation |
|---|---|---|---|
|
First offense
|
48 hours to 364 days
|
$350 to $1500
|
One year
|
|
Second offense
|
45 days to 364 days
|
$600 to $3,500
|
Two years
|
|
Third offense
|
120 days to 364 days
|
$1,100 to $10,000
|
Six years
|
|
Fourth offense and beyond
|
At least 150 consecutive days and up to one year
|
$3,000 to $15,000
|
Eight years
|
While the minimum sentence for jail time is reasonably strict in Tennessee, the maximum jail time is relatively light. This is partially because the first three offenses are charged as misdemeanors. Only the fourth offense and beyond is charged as a felony.
Tennessee gives almost no leeway with fines, though. The sentencing judge is not required to assign a fine for a first offense. But for any other offense, the fines are mandatory and significant.
Finally, the sentencing judge has discretion in two more matters. Anyone convicted of a DUI may be forced to participate in a court-ordered alcohol treatment program. Additionally, the judge can order the defendant to install an ignition interlock device (at their expense) for one year after their license is restored. Due to a recently passed law, these devices must be equipped with GPS that can geotag the device.
What to Expect After a DUI Arrest in Tennessee
If you are arrested for a DUI, proceedings will generally move pretty quickly. You will be taken to the police station, and your vehicle will be towed to an impound lot. At the station, you will booked, which means the police will:
- Fingerprint you
- Take a picture of you
- Get personal identifying information about you
- Hold you in custody until a bail hearing or court appearance
You have the right to remain silent and the right to be represented by an attorney. The police must allow you to contact a lawyer if they don’t immediately release you after the arrest. Finally, if you request counsel, the police are not permitted to ask you any more questions until your lawyer is present.
How Can an Attorney Help You?
When you are charged with a DUI, a lawyer seeks to get you the best result possible. That means they will try to get your charges dropped if possible. When that isn’t possible, they may pursue a plea deal or fight the charges at trial.
Most DUI lawyers in Nashville will quickly help you get bail and investigate your case. They look for evidence that the police improperly pulled you over, arrested you or didn’t respect one of your other rights. Your attorney might also investigate whether the breathalyzer was properly calibrated if you submitted to that test.
Typically, your attorney’s main goal is to prevent you from losing your license and from facing jail time. If they can negotiate a plea agreement, even one that includes a fine, that prevents those consequences, that is usually the approach they will take.
How to Choose the Best DUI Lawyer in Nashville, Tennessee
Reading through this guide of the best DUI lawyers in Nashville is only the first step to choosing the right attorney to represent you. As you are reading this guide, you should consider the following factors.
- Languages spoken. This probably only matters if English isn’t your first language. Speaking to a lawyer who is fluent in your first language can make it easier to understand your rights.
- Trial experience. Most DUI cases don’t go to trial. However, if you can’t afford to accept a plea deal, even on lesser charges, you want an attorney with lots of trial experience.
- Familiarity with the local DA. Many DUI lawyers in Nashville have prior experience as district attorneys for the county. These lawyers likely offer an advantage when negotiating plea deals.
- Past successes. This is one piece of information that you won’t learn much about online because defense lawyers usually don’t publish information about past cases. Ask them in person to find out more information.
Methodology
To come up with the best DUI lawyers in Nashville in 2024, Forbes Advisor considered many factors. Forbes Advisor’s mathematical analysis considers and weighs the information collected to calculate a specific rating and reviews these results to find the best attorneys in a given practice area.
Within the model, we take into account factors that legal professionals and consumers value in an attorney’s qualifications. After assigning weighted scores to hundreds of data points, we narrowed the field down to our top choices based on:
- Legal experience
- Special licenses and certifications
- Ethics and bar disciplinary measures
- Legal thought leadership
- Education and employment background
- Scholarly lectures and writings
- Awards and honors
Forbes Advisor collects public data from a variety of sources, including state bar associations, court records and other published sources on the internet. This information should not be considered comprehensive, however. It might not include additional relevant information on an attorney’s legal skills and experience.
Each lawyer listed here has their own merits. Bear in mind that our list relates to these lawyers’ legal backgrounds, but does not evaluate their personalities or their knowledge of the law. One attorney may be more suitable than another for your specific legal situation.
One thing that can’t be quantified, though, is the rapport you establish with your attorney. Personality goes a long way when teaming up with an attorney, especially when going through a potentially difficult legal situation. These rankings should serve as a reference and potential starting point in your search for the right lawyer for you and your legal concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the consequences if I refuse to take a field sobriety test?
While the implied consent rules require you to submit to a breathalyzer test or a blood test, they do not require you to consent to field sobriety tests. These tests are historically inaccurate and you have the right to refuse.
Can I get a DUI conviction expunged in Tennessee?
Typically, it is possible to have a DUI conviction expunged under specific circumstances. You must wait at least five years after the conviction and have completed all requirements of your sentence, including paying all fines. If you have no other convictions, you can petition to have the charge removed from your public record.
Will I lose the right to vote if I am convicted of a DUI?
Typically, being convicted of a DUI will not cost you the right to vote. The first three offenses are charged as misdemeanors. You only lose your right to vote if you are convicted of a felony, and a DUI is only a felony on the fourth offense or later.
However, if you are charged with parallel charges, like vehicular manslaughter, that would be a felony and would cost you the right to vote if you are convicted.
