DWI or DUI Court Referral Programs in Tennessee

If you have been pulled over and arrested for drinking and driving offenses in Tennessee there are a few things that you can do to help stay out of jail and hopefully, avoid a life-changing DUI conviction. Depending on the type of charges you have, you may be required to complete a DWI or DUI Court Referral Program in Tennessee. After you plead guilty, the offender may apply for diversion. The application goes through the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations and, if approved, the offender then serves a period of probation. Conditions of probation include abstaining from alcohol and drugs, attending drug and alcohol abuse classes, performing community service, or installing an ignition interlock device in your vehicle.

A DUI or DWI conviction in Tennessee is not something to be taken lightly. It can have serious life-altering consequences far-reaching into many areas of your life. We have helped thousands of people over the years avoid significant jail time, fines, and license revocation periods. Getting help for underlying alcohol addiction will help the courts determine if you are taking full responsibility for driving under the influence and breaking the law. Call us today and let us help you with your drinking and driving arrest and help you find an alcohol recovery program. Addiction No More ® can not give legal advice however if you are looking for rehabilitation for addiction we can help you find treatment in your area or anywhere in the country. Give us a call today and we can help. 

1-800-513-5423

What to do if you have been arrested for drinking and driving

Drinking and driving in Tennessee can be a serious offense and the consequences can have life-changing outcomes. If you have been pulled over, make sure that you know your rights and remain courteous at all times. Being compliant and courteous can affect the outcome of the court’s layout as punishment.

Driving under the influence: Driving under the influence (DUI) Driving while intoxicated (DWI) and operating a motor vehicle under the influence (OUI). These are the common terms used to describe operating a motorized vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In Tennessee, driving while intoxicated is considered a misdemeanor and is subject to the state’s laws regarding driving while drunk.

DWI/DUI diversion rehabs in Tennessee are very familiar with the court-mandated treatment requirements that the courts have imposed for their court-ordered alcohol rehab centers. Some court-ordered DUI deferment programs will include alcohol evaluations and at the very least, alcohol and drug classes for first-time offenders. This can cost anywhere from $1000-2500 dollars with the fines, not including lawyer fees and bail.

If this is your second offense, getting involved in a treatment program for alcohol abuse will not only help your ongoing DWI-DUI case but benefit you as well. You should always enter into an alcohol treatment program knowing that there is a need for a change before something worse happens. Driving and Drinking can cost you your life or even worse someone else life. Treatment programs in Tennessee for criminal justice clients will work with the court system to handle all the requirements for treatment to be considered time served. Once all the financial consequences are paid by the defendant and community service is completed if any, Tennessee district court may terminate the probation period.

Driving under the influence can damage many people’s lives other than yourself. Getting treatment for your alcohol dependency can help you understand that the risks of drinking and driving heavily outweigh the rewards. Sometimes, all it takes is to talk to someone who has had the burden of having someone die due to their alcohol consumption and driving under the influence. Our counselors are ready to take your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

1-800-513-5423

DUI First-Offender and Diversion Programs

If you are convicted of a first offense DUI you will spend at least 48 hours in jail. You will also be ordered to enroll in an alcohol and drug education program. You will be required to pay restitution to any person suffering physical injury or financial loss, as well as a fine of $350-$1,500.

The laws are different in each state for DWI offenses that allow for deferment programs instead of jail time. Some states, depending on the circumstances, will mandate treatment and community service. Some of these mandates can be handled while in treatment for alcohol abuse. Tennessee has a deferment program for first-time DWI offenders as long as there are no injuries, accidents, or drugs involved. The Presiding Judge has the option to court order the defendant to use an ignition interlock system on their primary vehicles for up to one year after the suspension period has been complied with. If you have been arrested for your second DWI/DUI in Tennessee, it is highly recommended that you give us a call to find out your options for a deferment program instead of jail time. This will help with the possible consequences that the courts may impose on you. Drinking and driving can have serious outcomes including vehicular homicide, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and other very serious charges. When a minor is involved, there are more serious outcomes that the courts in Tennessee can impose on the offender. If there has been an accident or death due to drinking and driving there will be significant jail time imposed as well as the knowledge that your indulgence cost someone their life.

Penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol or mind-altering substance in Tennessee

First Offense: Penalties for the first DUI conviction can include up to one year of confinement in a jail or workhouse. As a condition of the probation, the first-time DUI offender will be required to pick up litter along the highways wearing a bright orange vest with black letters saying “I AM A DRUNK DRIVER” for three days of 8-hour work shifts. Fines for first-time offenders range from $350 up to $1,500, and the driving privileges are revoked for one year.

Second Offense: 2nd DUI conviction within 10 years of a previous conviction and the courts will order minimum confinement in a workhouse for no less than 45 days to a maximum of 364 days in county jail. Fines for a 2nd DUI in Tennessee can total as much as $3,500 with a $600 minimum fine. The driving suspension period is for 2 years and court-ordered inpatient alcohol treatment for up to 28 days.

Third Offense: 3rd DUI conviction in Tennessee the courts can order a maximum workhouse or jail sentence of up to 1 year, fines totaling $10,000 with a $1,000 minimum, and driving privileges revoked and suspended for up to 6 years.

Tennessee has specific drinking and driving laws and penalties for people who have been convicted of a DUI/DWI. There are minimum and maximum fines and penalties that are at the discretion of the judge and prosecuting attorney depending on many different factors and circumstances surrounding the case.

Find Deferred Prosecution Rehabs Near Me

We can help you locate treatment for addiction in your area or anywhere in the country. To locate AA meetings, group meetings, 12-step programs, inpatient treatment, or outpatient services in your town give us a call. There are many options for drug rehab services in many cities in Tennessee.

Clarksville, Tennessee Alcohol Rehabs
Franklin, TN Alcohol Addiction Treatment
Germantown, Tennessee Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation
Jackson, TN Substance Abuse and Alcoholism Treatment
Knoxville, Tennessee 30/90-Day Treatment Centers
Memphis, TN Inpatient Alcohol Rehab Programs
Nashville, Tennessee Treatment Centers for Addiction
Oak Ridge, TN Alcohol Detox Centers, and Rehab Facilities
Spring Hill, Tennessee Residential Treatment Programs

Treatment for alcoholism in place of jail time in Tennessee is a very common outcome for those seeking help to end their addictions. If you have an open DWI case in Tennessee, call us and we can help you locate a deferment program in your county that works with DUI and DWI offenders. We can help you find the best rehab center for alcohol misuse today. Addiction No More ® is an Addiction Treatment Center locator service. For immediate service, please call one of our counselors 24/7.

Sources
Diversions, Expungements, & Dispositions
General Sessions DUI Court Referral
DUI Offenses

Erik Epp – Content Author