Tennessee Criminal Lawyer Blog

Life is full of surprises. One can go from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows in a matter of seconds. One minute you can be living the good life, ruling the road in your motorized recliner, and the next thing you know you are getting bushwhacked by a parked car. To make matters worse, the ambush could lead to your arrest for driving under the influence while not causing you serious enough injury for anyone to feel bad about making fun of you. While this hypothetical situation may seem far-fetched, it is exactly the scenario in which a Minnesota man found himself in August of 2008 and resulted in him pleading guilty recently to the charge of driving under the influence.

While it may seem odd to be charged with driving under the influence from the comfort of your easy chair, Tennessee law allows the offense to be charged against anyone who operates a “motor driven” vehicle while the alcohol concentration in the person’s breath or blood is .08% or more. The recliner in this case had been equipped with a converted lawnmower motor, steering wheel, stereo system, and cup holders, so the Tennessee statute clearly would apply to the vehicle. Also, the man’s blood alcohol content was allegedly .29% at the time of the offense, almost four times the legal limit in Tennessee. Although it seems rare that someone would be charged with a DUI on a piece of furniture, the Tennessee statute is drafted so that such activity is actually covered. Citizens would be well-advised to learn more information on the penalties for DUI in Tennessee.