Mt. Juliet and Lebanon TN
- Christmas and presents.
- Valentine’s and candy.
- Thanksgiving and turkey.
- New Year’s Eve and booze.
It’s hard to think of one without the other, for most people. But, nothing like getting a DUI on the night you ring in the New Year to put a damper on your “fresh start.” Nashville area DUI attorney at the Law Office of Yancy Belcher want you to know how you can avoid getting a DUI this New Year’s Eve.
What can a DUI cost me?
According to Tennessee’s public safety office, first time DUI offenders face these penalties:
- Jail time from 48 hours to 11 months
- A BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) of .20 or higher lands you in jail for 7 consecutive days
- Lose your licenses for 1 year, although restricted licenses may be available in some cases
- Forced to participate in an alcohol and drug treatment program
- Pay restitution to anyone you hurt
- Fined between $350-1000
- Total fees of up to $4,900, which include towing, bail, attorney, high-risk insurance, court costs, school, and reinstatement fees
- Receive ignition lock device installed on your vehicle at your expense, costs about $1,000
- If two DUIs within 5 years, an ignition interlock device is required for 6 months after reinstatement at your expense
This may already sound bad enough, but subsequent DUI convictions or convictions that result in vehicular assault or child endangerment result in much more serious repercussions, including felonies and lengthy jail time.
What you may not realize is that a DUI on your record could implicate future job prospects. Furthermore, if you end up with a felony because of your DUI, it will be a struggle to get a lease for a place to live, and you won’t be able to own any weapons. As you can see, getting a DUI does more than just affect your finances, so avoid getting a DUI at all costs.
Most everyone knows that around the holidays, especially New Year’s Eve, police are on alert and will be on the lookout for suspicious driving.
Whether you have been drinking or not, these are the things police are looking for:
- Driving without your headlights on when it’s dark
- Speeding
- Weaving
- Changing lanes without using turn signal
- Making wide turns
- Driving with headlight or taillights out
- Going the wrong way on a one-way street
- Stopping past designated stopping points
All of these may alert police of a suspicious driver, even if you haven’t been drinking. It’s far better to err on the side of caution. Most importantly, never drive if you have been drinking, even just one drink. With so many driving services available today through cabs, Uber, and Lyft, no one should ever need to get behind the wheel after he or she have been drinking.
DUI Attorney in Nashville area
The Law Office of Yancy Belcher wishes you a safe and Happy New Year! Should you end up getting pulled over for a DUI offense, be sure to contact the best DUI attorney in Mt. Juliet and Nashville by calling (615) 773-2889.
The Law Office of Yancy Belcher can handle DUIs in the Hermitage and Mt. Juliet area of Nashville.
