Speeding Is Illegal and Dangerous in Memphis

The Real Cost of a DUI Charge

Most people out there recognize the fact that driving while drunk is a very bad idea. While a person is drunk, their mind isn’t what it normally is, meaning they are more likely to make costly mistakes. This is why it is illegal to drive while drunk all over the country.

Here in Tennessee, the penalties for committing DUI include:

  • Some form of probation.
  • Up to one year in county jail.
  • Fines up to $1,000.
  • Suspended or revoked driver’s license.
  • Needing to attend DUI school.
  • Paying possible restitutions.

These all seem like pretty bad penalties to deal with for most people. However, it is not scary enough for some people considering they still decide to drive drunk. What these people realize is that the cost of the DUI is a lot more expensive than just a $1,000 fine. There are all sorts of costs to consider, including:

  • Towing and storage fees for the vehicle roughly $650.
  • DUI classes cost money, roughly $650.
  • Attorney fees cost a couple of thousand dollars.
  • Driver’s license reinstatement costs $100.
  • Insurance rate hikes can average around $40,000 over 13 years.
  • Restitutions for anyone who was hurt can cost several thousand.

Even a single DUI offense can be incredibly expensive. This is just another reason why a person should never drink and drive.

It Is Never Okay to Drink and Drive

If you were to ask anyone if driving while drunk was a safe thing to do, they would tell you it is a very dangerous thing to do. In 2017, 29% of all driving fatalities were caused by drunk drivers. This amounted to nearly 11,000 deaths that could have easily been prevented. With all the advances in technology, getting a safe ride home has never been easier. There is never a reason to get behind the wheel of a vehicle while drunk.

Drunk driving is illegal in every single state in the US due to how dangerous it is. Getting caught while driving under the influence carries heavy penalties, especially for repeat offenders. The laws and penalties vary by state. Here in Tennessee, the state has several different laws surrounding the act of driving under the influence (DUI).

Penalties of DUI

All Tennessee laws surrounding DUI basically state that a person should never get behind the wheel of a vehicle while intoxicated. What changes through these various laws is the exact circumstances. If a person is simply caught driving while intoxicated, they will face consequences under Vehicle Code (VC) 23152. If they cause injury to someone else, then they will face charges under VC 23153.
A person can even get into trouble for refusing to provide a breath or blood sample to an officer during a traffic stop. This can be charged under VC 23612.

The penalties for committing DUI vary depending on the crime itself and the driving record of the driver in question. The typical consequences for DUI can include:

  • Informal probation.
  • Max 6 month jail sentence for first offense/ Max 1 year for repeat offenders.
  • Base fines of $390 to $1,000.
  • Suspended or revoked driver’s license.
  • DUI school.
  • Community service.
  • Requirement to attend AA meetings.
  • Vehicle being impounded.
  • Instillation of breathalyzer ignition device on vehicle.
  • Victim restitution’s if someone was hurt.

Generally, DUI’s are misdemeanor offenses, unless:

  • Someone was seriously hurt.
  • Someone was killed.
  • This is the driver’s fourth DUI in a 10 year period.
  • This is the driver’s third DUI that harmed someone in a 10 year period.
  • The driver has a prior felony DUI in a 10 year period.

Felony DUI convictions can come with the already mentioned penalties, as well as these increased penalties:

  • Formal probation.
  • Prison sentences, which vary from case to case.
  • Base fines between $390 and $5,000.

DUI for Professional Drivers

The fact that DUI laws apply to all drivers is a given. However, what some people may not know is that this law applies differently to drivers who are for-hire. A for-hire driver being someone who drives a vehicle such as a taxi, bus, Lyft, or Uber.

Normally, drivers are only considered intoxicated if they have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08%. However, for-hire drivers are only allowed to have a BAC of 0.04%. If a for-hire driver is caught driving with that level of BAC or hire, they will face DUI charges, which would likely mean a suspension of their driver’s license.

The Dangers of Hungover Driving

Something else that many drivers are not aware of is the fact that driving while hungover can be just as bad as driving while drunk. This fact was discovered by researchers at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. Participants of the study had 10 drinks, slept off the alcohol until their BAC was 0%.

The results showed that the drivers were roughly as impaired, if not more so, than a driver with a BAC of 0.05%. The drivers were more prone to speeding, struggled to drive straight, and just generally made more errors.

This is likely due to the results of being dehydrated, having low blood sugar, and not getting enough sleep the night before.

There Is No Reason to Drive Drunk

Driving while intoxicated is never a good idea. Not only is it against the law, it is incredibly dangerous. Drunk driving is the cause of thousands of accidents and deaths every single year in the US alone.

In today’s modern age, there is no reason for any of this. With smartphones, people now have the ability get a safe ride literally in the palm of their hand. A person can easily contact a loved one to come pick them up, or hire a driver of a taxi, Lyft, or Uber. Doing this has never been easier than it is right now. A person can easily save themselves and the lives of people they’ve never met by simply pulling out their phone before ever setting foot in a vehicle.

Can Your Neighbor Park and Block Your Driveway?

The downside to living in a city or residential area is that it’s not uncommon for someone to park in such a way that it blocks your driveway. Luckily, in most cases the driver is only there for a few minutes before they move on, but every once in a while you’ll encounter some rude driver who doesn’t seem to see why you are upset about the fact that they’ve been blocking their driveway for hours.

The good news is that you do have some legal options.

The first thing you should do is ask the person to move their vehicle. No matter how irritated you are over the situation, while dealing with the driver, stay calm, cool, and collected. Remember that you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Stay polite and calmly explain that they’re making it impossible for you to get in an out of your home, which is making it difficult for you to pick up kids from school, get to work, etc.

If you’ve spoken to the driver and they continue to block your drive with their car, it’s time to contact the local authorities. Ask that they speak to the driver. If you’ve kept a record (complete with pictures) of the number of times the driver has blocked your driveway, they’ll have a better understanding of why you’re frustrated.

Based on what happens when they speak to the driver, the police will advise you on what your best options are. You want to follow their guidelines and not take matters into your own hands. Don’t be surprised if they suggest having the city tow the vehicle. They may even suggest that the next time you have a problem, contacting them and they’ll arrange for the city garage to tow the car.

While there are things that can be done about a car that’s constantly parked in your driveway, as long as the access isn’t blocked, there’s little you can do about a neighbor that constantly parks in front of your house provided they park on the street and not on your actual property.

If a vehicle has been parked in front of your home for more than a week without being driven, you can contact the police and report an abandoned vehicle. If they’re unable to track down the driver, they’ll have the vehicle to the city impound.