How Do You Get Around Town or to Work after a DUI in Tennessee?

By Adrian Altshuler | October 31, 2019

If you’ve been convicted of a DUI or an implied consent violation, your driving privileges will likely be suspended. Subsequent convictions or violations will normally result in longer suspensions. Under certain conditions, someone convicted of a DUI or an implied consent violation may be able to obtain a restricted license. Otherwise, they will need to find alternative transportation.

Today, we wanted to look at those two paths in case you’re struggling with the loss of your license.

How to obtain a restricted license

Tennessee recognizes that even people convicted of crimes do need to get to work, go to school, and get to medical appointments. For these reasons, they make available a restricted driver license to anyone convicted of a DUI provided:

  • They did not cause a car crash in which anyone suffered death or serious bodily injury
  • They agree to geographical limitations – generally the county where they live
  • They only use their vehicle to get to and from:
    • Work
    • A certified DUI education program
    • A college or university where they are enrolled – full time
    • Appointments to monitor ignition interlock devices (IIDs)
  • They complete the necessary forms, pay the correct fee, and show that their car insurance is current. They may also be required to pass a driver’s test.
  • If they are ordered to use an IID device, they must install it before they will be granted a restricted driver’s license
  • They haven’t previously been convicted of:
    • A prior DUI
    • Allowing someone who is drunk to drive their car
    • Aggravated vehicular homicide or vehicular homicide due to intoxication
    • Vehicular assault
    • DUI-child endangerment

Alternative transportation when your license is suspended because of a DUI

The main ways to travel about Franklin, Columbia, and Brentwood are through public transportation and private services. Public transportation includes trains and buses. Private services include taxis and rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft. Otherwise, they can try to get friends and family to drive them.

Public transportation services include:

Greyhound Bus offers private bus travel. Tennessee residents can use Amtrak to travel longer distances.

The best way to avoid the hassle of having your driving privileges suspended is not to be convicted of a DUI in the first place. At the Law Offices of Adrian H. Altshuler & Associates, we work aggressively to have your charges dismissed because the police didn’t have grounds to stop you, the breath and bloods tests were invalid, and for other reasons. We often work to have the charges reduced to offenses that won’t require a loss of driving privileges. To speak with an experienced DUI attorney, call us at 615-977-9370 or use our contact form to schedule a free consultation. We represent clients in Franklin, Columbia and Brentwood and the surrounding areas.

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Posted in DUI