Neighbor state wants to take Tennessee DUIs into account
There are beautiful and friendly neighboring states all around Tennessee. A lawmaker in one of those states, however, has a proposal in mind that some might not find very nice if they run into DUI trouble.
Senator Arthur Orr of Alabama wants his state to set stricter DUI laws, laws that would look at past convictions of impaired driving in Tennessee as reason to enforce stricter punishment. Among other proposed law changes, the senator proposes that any prior DUI convictions from Tennessee and Mississippi be applied toward the level of charges against defendants in his state.
Whether in Alabama or Tennessee, multiple DUI charges can lead to more serious consequences following a conviction. A second DUI conviction in Tennessee leads to a mandatory minimum of 45 days in jail and a driver’s license revocation for two years. A third conviction here means 120 days in jail and three-year license revocation.
If the out-of-state senator’s DUI proposal is accepted and put into law, Tennessee drivers with DWIs on their records would not only face more severe sentencing for multiple offenses here; if they are arrested for DUI in Alabama, their prior Tennessee convictions would mean similarly severe sentencing in the neighboring state.
Strict DUI laws are in Tennessee and are spreading throughout the country. No matter where someone is arrested for the suspicion of drunk or drugged driving, he or she needs the advice and guidance of a DUI defense lawyer as soon as possible.
We will post an update when there is a development regarding the proposed DUI law.
Source: Decatur Daily, “Bill would change state DUI laws,” Mary Sell, Dec. 1, 2013