After being charged with a DUI it is only normal to wonder what your options are moving forward. Depending on the circumstances, you may be facing no charges or may be facing jail time. Because the range of outcomes is so vast, it is important to know some basic facts about what the possible outcomes are after being charged with a DUI in Tennessee.
Here is a list of the possible scenarios following being charged with a DUI:
- You are acquitted: "not guilty" are the greatest two words you can ever hear if you find yourself in the place of being charged with a DUI. While this, unfortunately, isn't common, if you are acquitted it means that the judge or a jury was unable to find beyond a reasonable doubt that you committed a crime.
- Refusal DUI: while, by law, you can refuse a blood alcohol test when pulled over for suspicion of driving under the influence you should know that in some states, including Tennessee, it is a criminal offense to refuse a blood alcohol test. Refusing a test when pulled over can ultimately worsen your sentence if charged.
- Tested positive for a DUI: if you are charged with a DUI, you should know that there are serious implications. The consequences can range from losing one's license temporarily to high insurance premiums to jail time.
At the end of the day, if you have been charged with a DUI you know that it is no laughing matter. If charged, you should know what your options are and what the possible outcomes are. An attorney can help you determine your best options and how to move forward.