Your DUI Penalties May Last as Long as Your Criminal Record
It’s a common misconception that getting a DUI in Tennessee is like getting a traffic ticket: once your time is up, so to speak, the charge fades from your record.
This is patently untrue. A DUI in Tennessee stays on your criminal record forever, unless your criminal defense lawyer can have it expunged – and under the law, that can only happen if you were charged with a DUI but convicted of a non-DUI crime.
Long-term effects of a DUI on your record
Most people know about the immediate penalties associated with a DUI: loss of license, hundreds or thousands of dollars in fines, between a week and six years in jail. The consequences are grim. But there are long-term effects of getting a DUI in Tennessee that may not be apparent to you at first.
- Your ability to travel will be affected. Always wanted to see
- Niagara Falls? You’ll have to stay on the NY side, since Canada may not let you in. And you may have to walk to your next vacation, since you won’t be able to rent a car from an agency – and a judge could order you to forfeit your car.
- So much for your professional license. Doctors, brokers, even lawyers face losing their professional licenses. If you drive for a living, your CDL will be revoked.
- Cancel your annual hunting trip. A DUI conviction in Tennessee can lead to restrictions on your gun license. If you’re convicted of a felony DUI, you’ll lose your right to carry a gun permanently.
- Pony up for your insurance. Most auto insurance companies will increase your premiums exponentially – if they don’t cancel your policy entirely.
Tennessee law enforcement officers take DUIs very seriously – as seriously as they take violent crimes. That’s because every time you drink and drive, you have the potential to commit vehicular manslaughter, or hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of property damage.
If you’re charged with a DUI in Tennessee, you want an experienced criminal defense lawyer by your side. Your whole future could be in jeopardy if you’re convicted, including your ability to go to college or get a job. Makes the smart choice to hire a lawyer who can help you fight the charges, so you can keep your future plans intact.