Knoxville DUI Attorney
In the State of Tennessee, DUI is a serious crime. It requires jail time, loss of license, payment of fines, and can have lasting impacts on your life. If you have been arrested for DUI, your first decision needs to be speaking to an experienced DUI Lawyer. Below you will find specific details about DUI cases, investigations, and what to expect in Court.
DUI Charges in Tennessee
In Tennessee, a DUI charge can involve alcohol, marijuana, prescription medication, controlled substances, or a combination of substances. The State may charge DUI when it claims a person was driving or in physical control of a vehicle while impaired, or when the person’s blood or breath alcohol concentration was 0.08% or higher. For commercial drivers, the BAC threshold is 0.04% or higher.
That matters because defending a DUI case is not always just about whether someone had been drinking. Our approach may involve attacking the reason for the stop, the officer’s observations, field sobriety tests, breath testing, blood testing, statements, and whether the State can prove impairment or the required BAC level.
Butler Law reviews the details that matter in DUIs, including the traffic stop, testing procedures, and facts surrounding the arrest to build a strategic defense and pursue the best outcome in your case.
DUI Penalties in Tennessee
A DUI conviction in Tennessee can carry mandatory jail time, license consequences, fines, alcohol and drug treatment requirements, ignition interlock costs, and a criminal record. For a first offense, penalties include at least 48 hours to 11 months and 29 days in jail, a 1-year license revocation, a $350–$1,500 fine, treatment requirements, and possible ignition interlock costs.
The consequences can become more serious if there are prior DUI convictions, a high BAC, a crash, injuries, a child passenger, or an implied consent issue. A second DUI carries more mandatory jail time and a longer license revocation, and later offenses can create even more severe consequences, including felony exposure.
A DUI conviction can create problems well beyond the sentence itself. It may affect your driver’s license, insurance rates, employment, background checks, and future opportunities. Butler Law helps clients understand the court process and practical risks early so the case can be handled with a clear and focused strategy.
Arrested for DUI. Now What?
If you have been arrested for DUI, you need to call an experienced DUI Lawyer, like Attorney Oscar A Butler at Butler Law, LLC. During that call, you can expect Oscar to go over the details of your case from the beginning to end.
First, you will discuss some contextual information about what occurred before you were arrested - Were you drinking? Had you used any drugs? How were you feeling?
Second, you will discuss the “3 Phases” of your DUI Investigation and how these may impact your case. At Butler Law, we understand that defending a DUI case requires leverage, so the specific details of your case are important. Each phase has different facts that may allow for defenses to a DUI conviction. Any fact can be significant in the totality of the circumstances of the interaction, so it’s important that you are completely open and honest during the call.
Finally, you can expect to discuss some personal information about you and your background. This just allows for us to represent you better as our focus immediately will be separating you from the alleged facts from the officer and the rest of the drivers who have been arrested for DUI.
If you are facing DUI charges in Tennessee, Butler Law can guide you through what happened before, during, and after the arrest so you can better understand the allegations and the best options available in your case.
DUI Bond Conditions
When you have been arrested for DUI, you may have certain bond conditions to obey while the case is pending.
Common Bond Conditions:
Upon being released from jail, required to report to pretrial within 72 hours of your release.
Pretrial is a supervising entity that may monitor you while the case is pending. You could also be required to report to a pretrial or probation officer consistently during the case.
Could be required to install and keep an ignition interlock device (breathalyzer) in any vehicle you’re driving.
Alcohol & Drug Assessment
Alcohol and Drug Screens
Court Appearances and Possible Resolutions
Your first court date is coming up. What can you expect?
Arraignment
The first court date you will have is called the Arraignment. On that day, the Judge will make sure you are aware of the charges against you, and that you understand you have the right to an attorney.
If you cannot afford an attorney, the Court can appoint one for you.
At Butler Law, we will normally try to waive your arraignment date so that you’re not required to be in Court. We routinely waive this date because we will discuss with you your charges and once we are retained to be your attorney, there is no need to have the Court tell you that you have the right to to an attorney.
This court date is usually very quick and is more about scheduling the next court date.
Other Court Dates and Possible Resolutions
After your arraignment date, the next couple of court dates are usually “Status” dates. On these court dates Attorney Oscar Butler will be discussing and negotiating your case with the Attorney for the State of Tennessee. We will be discussing whether all the evidence has been gathered, whether there are legal issues or personal components that provide leverage, and ultimately possible resolutions. The State will normally make an offer to resolve your case short of having to have a preliminary hearing or jury trial.
At Butler Law, we fight to get you the best result possible. At the end of the day, the decision to accept any offer from the State is yours. Our job is get the best negotiated resolution, bring that offer to you, and assist you in making an informed decision.
There are many possible resolutions in a DUI case:
Dismissal
Reduction to Reckless Driving
Reduction to Misdemeanor Reckless Endangerment
Enhancement to Felony Reckless Endangerment on a Judicial Diversion
DUI Conviction
While we cannot guarantee a specific result, our success comes from years of experience and training handling DUI Cases in both General Sessions and Criminal Court. Do not wait any longer, call Butler Law now to get started on your case!
Serving East Tennessee
Butler Law represents clients facing DUI charges throughout East Tennessee, including:
Knox County (Knoxville)
Blount County (Maryville)
Sevier County (Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg)
Loudon County (Lenoir City)
Jefferson County (Jefferson City)
Anderson County (Oak Ridge)
Rutherford County (Murfreesboro)
Frequently Asked Questions
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After a DUI arrest in Tennessee, the case will usually move into court with an arraignment, bond conditions, and future court dates. You may also be dealing with license issues, alcohol or drug assessments, pretrial supervision, or ignition interlock requirements depending on the facts. Butler Law helps clients understand what happens next and start addressing the case early.
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Jail is possible even for a first DUI. Tennessee lists first-offense DUI penalties as 48 hours to 11 months and 29 days in jail, and a BAC of 0.20% or higher can increase the minimum jail time to 7 consecutive days.
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You can be charged with DUI even if alcohol is not the issue. Tennessee law covers impairment from intoxicants, marijuana, controlled substances, controlled substance analogues, drugs, substances affecting the central nervous system, or combinations of substances.
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The “3 phases” of a DUI investigation usually refer to the officer’s observations before the stop, the officer’s contact with the driver, and the field sobriety or testing phase. Each phase can matter because the defense may involve how the stop happened, what the officer observed, and whether testing or arrest decisions were handled properly.
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Oscar Butler approaches DUI defense by focusing on the details that matter: the stop, the investigation, the testing, the court process, and the client’s personal circumstances. Depending on the facts, Butler Law may work to challenge the charge, negotiate a favorable resolution, or limit the long-term impact on the client’s future.
Why Clients Choose Butler Law
Attorney Oscar Butler is a former Knox County prosecutor with experience handling criminal cases from both sides of the courtroom. After prosecuting serious offenses in Knox County and later defending clients in private practice, he founded Butler Law to provide focused criminal defense representation for clients in Knoxville and the surrounding East Tennessee area.
Clients turn to Butler Law because they want an experienced attorney who understands how criminal cases are charged, evaluated, and negotiated, and who can build a defense strategy around the actual facts of the matter.
Attorney Butler is committed to achieving the best possible results for each client. He leverages his prosecutorial insight to develop aggressive defenses aimed at reducing charges, securing dismissals where appropriate, and minimizing the long-term impact on your life and record.
Payment Plans Available
At Butler Law, we understand that legal representation is a financial investment. We provide interest free payment plan options to help with the investment. We want to work with you, and we don’t want finances to get in the way.
Referral Network
If Butler Law can’t handle your case or request, our referral network is full of law firms who may be able to assist. Contact us today so we can get you in contact with the Attorney best suited to handle your case.
Need an Attorney for DUI Charges?
Reach out today for a completely free consultation. You can call, email us, or fill out this online inquiry. Once you have submitted the requested information, we will contact you to schedule a time to discuss your legal needs. We look forward to hearing from you soon!