Tennessee Department of Transportation Employee Charged with DUI

A Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) employee has resigned after being accused of being drunk while recently running through a red light. According to a report in The Knoxville News Sentinel, the 56-year-old Knoxville man was charged following an accident at Louisiana Avenue and the Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge.

Officials say the man was driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) when his state-owned 2010 Ford F-150 went through a red light and crashed into a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado. He was charged with DUI and refusal to submit to a blood alcohol test. He had been an employee of the TDOT since May 1997.

All motorists in Tennessee are legally required to submit to an alcohol test when asked by the authorities. If you refuse to submit to a blood, breath, or urine test to determine your blood alcohol content, you can be charged with an implied consent violation. Under Tennessee Code 55-10-406, anyone who drives a vehicle in Tennessee has given implied consent to a chemical test. Unfortunately, drivers do not have the right to speak with a DUI lawyer in Tennessee before choosing whether or not to submit to a chemical test.

A conviction for a DUI in Tennessee can result in jail time and heavy fines, but the consequences do not end there. It is common for individuals who drive for a living to lose their job after being convicted for a DUI. If you are facing DUI charges, it is important that you contact a skilled Knoxville DUI defense lawyer to discuss your rights before making any legal decisions. Accepting a plea deal before discussing your case with a skilled legal representative can prove to be a costly mistake that could affect your life socially, professionally, and financially.