Nashville DUI Lawyer for College Students and Their Families
Nashville Criminal Defense Lawyer & Former Prosecutor Kevin Kennedy. 615-205-7311. Call or text for a free consultation.
Start With the Charge, Release Status, and Court Date
A late-night call that a college student has been arrested for DUI can leave parents unsure what to do first. Determine whether the student is still in custody, confirm the exact charge, identify any bond conditions, and obtain the Davidson County court date.
Do not let embarrassment or fear of school consequences cause the student to ignore the case. A first DUI in Tennessee carries mandatory consequences if there is a conviction.
What Are the Current First-DUI Penalties in Tennessee?
Tennessee currently provides a minimum 48 hours in jail for a first DUI conviction, with a seven-day minimum when the alcohol concentration is .20% or higher. The fine range is $350 to $1,500, and the driver's-license revocation period is one year.
Ignition-interlock requirements can also apply. The Tennessee Department of Safety states that a person driving during the revocation period generally must comply with the applicable ignition-interlock requirements.
Will the Student Lose the Ability to Drive to Class or Work?
A DUI can create major transportation problems for a student. Restricted-driving and ignition-interlock options depend on the case and licensing requirements.
Parents should not assume the student can simply keep driving until the criminal case ends. The license and court issues should be reviewed promptly.
What Evidence Should Be Reviewed?
- The legal basis for the traffic stop
- Police body-camera and dash-camera video
- Field sobriety testing
- Breath or blood evidence
- Implied-consent paperwork
- Statements attributed to the student
- Witnesses, receipts, rideshare history, and timeline evidence
A DUI arrest is not the same thing as a conviction. The evidence should be reviewed before deciding how the case should be resolved.
Could the DUI Affect College?
A university may have policies that address criminal conduct, alcohol, or other behavior. Any school process is separate from the Davidson County prosecution.
The student should be cautious about giving detailed statements about the DUI in another proceeding while the criminal case is pending.
Can a First DUI Receive Diversion?
Tennessee DUI convictions are subject to specific statutory sentencing rules, and ordinary diversion should not be assumed to be available for a DUI charge. The defense should instead evaluate whether the State can prove DUI and whether dismissal, reduction, trial, or another lawful resolution is possible.
Do not confuse general diversion rules that apply to many criminal charges with the rules governing DUI.
What Can Parents Do to Help?
Parents can help the student keep court dates, preserve evidence, arrange transportation, address treatment if appropriate, and retain counsel. They can also help the student avoid compounding the problem through a new arrest or violation of release conditions.
Parents should avoid contacting witnesses to influence their account.
What If the Student Is From Outside Tennessee?
Students who attend school in Nashville but maintain an out-of-state license can face consequences involving both the Tennessee case and their home-state driving privileges.
The licensing consequences vary by state, so the student should not assume that an out-of-state license prevents suspension or other action.
Talk With a Nashville DUI Lawyer
Kevin Kennedy is a former Davidson County prosecutor who now defends DUI cases in Nashville and throughout Middle Tennessee. Kevin Kennedy Law Firm can review the stop, video, testing, license consequences, and possible defenses.
Call Kevin Kennedy Law Firm at (615) 205-7311 to discuss your student's DUI case.