Chattanooga DUI Lawyer

Have you wondered why so many law firms are on television soliciting the unfortunate individuals and/or families who have been stricken with mesothelioma -- a deadly disease caused by exposure to asbestos? The answer is simple: 31 billion dollars. That is the estimated amount that has been set aside in trust funds to pay mesothelioma or asbestos victims. For the most part, the money in these trust funds comes from the bankruptcies of numerous companies that mined, made, sold, or used asbestos or asbestos-containing products.

A bill that would stiffen penalties for those convicted of DUI when a passenger under the age of 18 is in the vehicle has been sent to Governor Haslam for his consideration.

The proposal, sponsored by Rep. Tony Shipley (R), has already received strong support from both chambers. Last month, the measure was unanimously passed in the Senate with a vote of 32-0. Earlier this week, the bill (HB 2751) also unanimously passed in the House by a vote of 94-0.

Those stopped for drunk driving with minors in their vehicles are already treated more harshly under Tennessee laws. As of January 2012, if a driver is stopped for DUI in Tennessee and a minor under the age of 16 is in the vehicle, the officer is required to take a blood alcohol test of the driver. If a person is convicted of DUI in Tennessee with a person under the age of 18 in the vehicle, the driver receives a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 days of incarceration and a minimum $1,000 fine.

For a variety of reasons many DUI-accused individuals wait too long to hire an attorney to represent them in court. In this blog entry, we will try to give several explanations as to why you should immediately contact a lawyer as soon as you are released from jail. (See also the earlier article on our website by Jerry H. Summers as to how you should choose an attorney.)

1. Photo evidence of the route you were traveling when you were "blue lighted" (reason for stop) by law enforcement may be critical as to whether they had a legal basis to check you out and pull you over. Road changes by construction can make this evidence unavailable and later inadmissible.

2. Photos as to the location where you agreed to take field sobriety tests (FSTS) upon the request of the officer (you are not required to submit to any field sobriety tests, only to breath or blood tests at the discretion of the officer). The National Highway Safety Transportation Administration (NHSTA) training manual, which is the "bible" for the training of law enforcement officers in DUI cases, requires that they be performed on a "flat, level, dry surface by a person not over sixty years of age or fifty pounds overweight" in order to be valid.

Your car already notifies you if you wear a seatbelt, but consider if your vehicle also monitored how much alcohol you consumed. The federal transportation bill in the Senate is calling for over $30 million in funds to be designated towards research for alcohol-sensing technology in cars over the next several years.

Already many states, including Tennessee, use ignition interlock devices. These devices are used in some more serious Tennessee DUI cases, and require a driver to blow into the device before starting the vehicle. If the device detects a high blood-alcohol content the vehicle will not start.