Louisville DUI Defense Lawyer

Skilled Drunk Driving Defense Lawyer in Louisville, TN

If you have been charged with DUI, your driver's license – and potentially your liberty – are in jeopardy. Tennessee has some of the most stringent DUI penalties in the country, and even a first DUI conviction will result in a mandatory loss of driving privileges and potential jail time. Do not try to defend against these charges on your own. Make sure you have a skilled Louisville DUI defense lawyer advocating for you against whatever evidence law enforcement may have against you.

Although you may feel overwhelmed and think there is no way to fight the charges against you, the lawyers at Jeffrey Coller, Knoxville Criminal Defense Attorney know that to obtain a conviction against someone charged with DUI, the prosecutor must prove certain factors. These include:

The Police Had Reasonable Suspicion to Stop the Vehicle

Police officers cannot just pull a driver over unless they have a reasonable suspicion that a person has violated the law. Some of the common reasons cited by officers for conducting a traffic stop include:

• The driver was swerving from one lane to another.
• The driver was driving erratically.
• The driver was operating at lower than normal speeds or speeding up and then slowing down.
• The driver had a near-miss crash.
• The driver committed a traffic violation, such as driving through a stop sign or red light.

The Defendant Had Control of the Vehicle

Not everyone who is charged with DUI is actually driving their vehicle when they have an encounter with police that eventually leads to the arrest. Drivers sitting in parked vehicles have been arrested – and convicted – for DUI because, under Tennessee law, that driver had "control" of the vehicle, even though the vehicle was not moving. If the vehicle keys are in the ignition or anywhere in the driver's possession (i.e., in their pocket) and the driver is sitting in the driver's seat, he or she is still considered legally in control of the vehicle.

The Driver's BAC Was Over the Legal Limit

Under Tennessee law, the legal limit for blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.08 percent. A CDL DUI only requires a BAC of 0.04 percent, and an underage DWI only requires a BAC of 0.02 percent.

BAC levels are measured by breathalyzer or blood tests. When people accept a driver's license issued by the state, they agree to abide by Tennessee's implied consent law. This means they agree to submit to BAC testing after being arrested for DUI. If drivers refuse to submit to a test, their license will be suspended, regardless of the outcome of the criminal DUI charges they face.

Other Types of DUI Charges Our Firm Can Help With

DUI arrests do not just occur on the roads. Tennessee also has stringent laws against boating under the influence (BUI). Our Louisville DUI defense lawyers have successfully represented many clients who were charged with BUI while enjoying the waters at the Louisville Landing Marina or the Union Landing.

Jeffrey Coller, Knoxville Criminal Defense Attorney has also successfully represented clients who were charged with marijuana DUI. Many people do not realize that any detectable amount of THC in their blood can result in a DUI arrest in Tennessee, especially since both medical and recreational marijuana are still illegal in the state.

Contact Our Louisville, TN DUI Defense Lawyers

If you have been charged with DUI, the impact a conviction can have on your life can be far-reaching. Loss of driving privileges can not only lead to issues with employment, but this can also interfere with visitation schedules and even custody issues if you are a single parent. If you have prior DUI convictions, you are likely facing jail or prison time and hefty fines.

Do not try to defend against these charges on your own. Contact us now at 865-281-1000 to schedule a free and confidential consultation with a seasoned Louisville DUI defense attorney and learn what type of defense Jeffrey Coller, Knoxville Criminal Defense Attorney may be able to develop for your situation.