Tennessee Criminal Lawyer Blog

Tennessee traffic ticket attorneys help motorists with their moving and non-moving violations. Our traffic lawyers handle everything from parking tickets to license suspension hearings. If you have a CDL, it is important for you to realize that certain violations may cost you your CDL license.

According to federal law, a driver will lose his CDL if he has two serious traffic violations within a three-year period while operating a CMV (commercial motor vehicle).
Serious traffic offenses include the following:

• Speeding excessively, involving any speed of 15 mph or more above the posted speed limit;
• Driving recklessly, as defined by State or local law or regulation, including but not limited to, offenses of driving a motor vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property;
• Making improper or erratic traffic lane changes;
• Following the vehicle ahead too closely;
• Violating State or local law relating to motor vehicle traffic control (other than a parking violation) arising in connection with a fatal accident;
• Driving a CMV without obtaining a CDL;
• Driving a CMV without a CDL in the driver’s possession.

If you are charged with speeding or any other traffic related offense, contact a traffic citation lawyer. Our office handles these cases in Knoxville, Maryville, Newport, Johnson City, Sevierville, Morristown, and Greenville.

Tennessee traffic citation attorneys understand how important a good driving record can be. A speeding ticket or moving traffic violation causes headaches for you no matter who you are, and no matter what your financial situation. If you are cited with speeding, contact a Tennessee traffic lawyer.

All states have different rules pertaining to how a speeding ticket affects your driving record. The Tennessee Department of Safety established The Driver Improvement Section to monitor the driving records of Tennessee drivers. Adult drivers start out with twelve points on their license. If a Tennessee driver accumulates twelve or more points on his driving record within any one-year period, then his or her license is subject to suspension.

Tickets issued in other states may affect your driving record in your home state depending upon the circumstances. If you believe that a citation you received in East Tennessee will hurt your driving record in your home state, contact a Tennessee traffic attorney.

Tennessee traffic attorneys help fight to keep your drivers license clean and legal. We have helped clients from all over the country resolve their traffic problems. Our firm handles traffic citations in Knoxville, Loudon, Newport, Sevierville, Maryville, and Jefferson County.

Tennessee Criminal Lawyers understand the impact that a vandalism charge can have on your life. It is important to realize that the facts of every vandalism case are different. Our Tennessee Attorneys handle vandalism charges in the Gatlinburg, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Knoxville area. An individual charged with vandalism should contact a Tennessee Criminal Lawyer as quickly as possible in order to maximize legal avenues for the best possible resolution.

Under Tennessee law, any person who knowingly causes damage to or the destruction of any real or personal property of another or of the state, the United States, any county, city, or town knowing that the person does not have the owner's effective consent is guilty of vandalism.

"Damage" includes, but is not limited to:

• Destroying, polluting or contaminating property; or
• Tampering with property and causing pecuniary loss or substantial inconvenience to the owner or a third person; and

"Polluting" is the contamination by manmade or man-induced alteration of the chemical, physical, biological or radiological integrity of the atmosphere, water, or soil to the material injury of the right of another. Pollutants include dredged soil, solid waste, incinerator residue, sewage, garbage, sewage sludge, munitions, chemical wastes, biological materials, radioactive materials, heat, wrecked or discarded equipment, rock, sand, cellar dirt, and industrial, municipal and agricultural waste. Tenn. Code Ann. § 39 -14-408 (2007).

The amount of damage sustained to the property determines what type of punishment one might receive under a vandalism charge in Tennessee. Generally, the types of punishment are based on the following:

• A Class A misdemeanor if the value of the property or services obtained is five hundred dollars ($500) or less;
• A Class E felony if the value of the property or services obtained is more than five hundred dollars ($500) but less than one thousand dollars ($1,000);
• A Class D felony if the value of the property or services obtained is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more but less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000);
• A Class C felony if the value of the property or services obtained is ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or more but less than sixty thousand dollars ($60,000); and
• A Class B felony if the value of the property or services obtained is sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) or more. Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-14-105 (2007).

If you are facing a criminal charge in Tennessee, it’s important for you to understand the long-term implications of a conviction. A Tennessee attorney can help you deal with your legal options and bring your situation to the best resolution possible for you and your family.

Knoxville DUI attorneys are dedicated to fighting DUI cases. Our East Tennessee DUI lawyers are trained and educated in the different aspects of DUI defense. Our office maintains high standards of continuing education to bring our clients up-to-date scientific knowledge and legal skills to defend DUI cases all across East Tennessee. The preservation of your rights is important.

Underage Driving While Impaired is an offense in Tennessee that closely resembles DUI. Under Tennessee law, a person age sixteen or over but under age twenty-one may not drive or be in physical control of an automobile or other motor driven vehicle while:

• The alcohol concentration in the person's blood is more than two hundredths of one percent;
• Under the influence of alcohol;
• Under the influence of any intoxicant, marijuana, narcotic drug, or drug producing stimulating effects on the central nervous system; or
• Under the combined influence of alcohol and any other drug to a degree which makes the person's driving ability impaired. Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-10-415 (2007).

It is usually not a defense to Underage Driving While Impaired that the individual under the influence of narcotic drugs or barbital drugs is or has been entitled to use such drugs under the laws of this state.

It is important to realize that the penalties for Underage Driving While Impaired and DUI are different. The offense of underage driving while impaired for a person age eighteen or over but under age twenty-one is a Class A misdemeanor punishable only by a driver license suspension of one year and by a fine of two hundred fifty dollars. As additional punishment, the court may impose public service work.

Underage Driving While Impaired for a person age sixteen or over but under the age of eighteen is considered to be a delinquent act. This is punishable only by a driver license suspension of one year and by a fine of two hundred fifty dollars. As additional punishment, the court may impose public service work.

If you or a loved one has been charged with Underage Driving While Impaired or DUI in the East Tennessee area, contact a Knoxville DUI lawyer. A Knoxville DUI attorney will discuss the legal aspects applicable in your case.

Tennessee traffic attorneys provide the aggressive representation you need to win your case. Our firm handles traffic-related matters including speeding ticket defense and other moving violations. If you have received a speeding ticket in Sevier County, Knox County, Blount County, Hamblen County, Cocke, County, Grainger County, McMinn County, Roane County, or Greene County, contact a Tennessee traffic lawyer.

A simple traffic citation can have significant consequences. You want to protect your rights, but suppose you can't make the court date and you don't know what to do. Tennessee Traffic attorneys have been helping drivers with commercial driver's licenses (CDL’s) and standard driver's licenses fight traffic tickets in the East Tennessee area. We provide representation in the following areas:

• CDL and Trucker Violations: Your livelihood depends on your ability to drive. Don't let a traffic violation lead to a suspended license.
• Speeding Tickets: If you simply pay the fine, you are essentially pleading guilty and will be subject to future headaches. Your insurance may skyrocket while your employability diminishes.
• Traffic Warrants: Contact an attorney before you get arrested during a warrant roundup.
• Out-of-State Drivers: Our firm frequently represents out-of-state drivers who were pulled over in Tennessee, and those who are unable to represent themselves.
• What to Expect in Court: Our firm can help you through every step of the traffic violation proceedings, so you understand your options.
• Non-Traffic Violations: If you have been ticketed for additional misdemeanor offenses, such as possession of drug paraphernalia, reckless driving, driving on a suspended license, driving on a revoked license, or other related offenses, we can help.

Tennessee traffic citation lawyers help you fight to keep your license and keep your insurance rates down. Our attorneys understand the challenges you face and the options you have available. We may be able to appear in court on your behalf, so you don't have to. Contact our firm today for a free initial consultation about your particular citation. Our firm handles traffic offenses in Knoxville, Sevierville, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Maryville, Newport, Loudon, and Morristown.