Knoxville, Tennessee Out of State DUI Lawyer

Trusted DUI Lawyer Defending Out-of-State Visitors in Knoxville, TN

Between Nashville's roaring country music scene, the party atmosphere downtown, and the surrounding natural beauty of the mountains, it is easy to see why Davidson and Knox Counties attract countless visitors every year. While most tourists enjoy their visits without incident, some are unfortunately arrested for DUI, public intoxication, BUI, or related offenses. Few things can ruin a vacation like finding yourself in jail far from home. Aside from the initial stress of an unexpectedly bad vacation, you may have to deal with a lot of other consequences. To begin with, you will likely need to return to Tennesssee more than once to appear in court.

The Baker Law Firm is experienced in working with tourists who are arrested for driving under the influence while visiting destinations like Knoxville or Nashville. Attorney Lance K. Baker will listen to your needs and concerns and help you determine the best ways to address these charges without causing you undue hardship.

What Happens if I am Arrested for DUI in Tennessee as an Out-of-State Visitor?

Getting arrested when you are visiting another state can be a huge inconvenience. Your first challenge might be making bail, depending on the circumstances. You may need to convince a judge that you will not simply go home and ignore your out-of-state DUI charges. An attorney can be instrumental in this process.

Navigating interstate DUI charges can be difficult. You may think that if your driver's license was not issued in Tennessee, that a Tennessee court cannot suspend it. However, this is not necessarily true. Your Tennessee DUI can impact your driving privileges in your home state - and every other state. You need a lawyer who has experience addressing out-of-state license suspension issues. It is best not to try to drive home until you have spoken to a lawyer. You would not want to get arrested again in a neighboring state, as this would only complicate matters.

You will likely need to return to Tennessee at least once to respond to your DUI charge. Attorney Baker can likely have some of your appearances waived or changed to virtual appearances, but traveling back may be unavoidable. It may also present logistical and financial challenges if you are unable to drive yourself. In some cases, you may be able to apply for a restricted license that would allow you to drive for limited purposes.

Finally, there is the matter of fulfilling any court-imposed sentencing. We can help you determine whether you can complete any sentencing requirements, like substance abuse treatment, DUI school, or driving with an ignition interlock device in your home state, helping avoid the need for you to come back to Tennessee.

DUI Charges for Visitors Attending University of Tennessee Football Games

One common reason people visit from out of state is to support their teams during away games at the University of Tennessee. Because so much alcohol is consumed at these games and their surrounding events, police may arrest people for DUI. In these situations, college students or adults from other states will need to understand how to defend against DUI charges in the local courts. Our team can provide assistance in these cases, making sure the correct procedures are followed and helping people from out of state take steps to avoid a conviction whenever possible and address any penalties that could affect their driver's licenses in their home states.

Defending a DUI Case

You are entitled to use all of the defenses to DUI charges that a resident of the state would be able to use. Common defenses we may use include:

• Challenging the field sobriety test - Field sobriety tests are notoriously unreliable. A large number of external factors that have nothing to do with your level of intoxication can influence the results.
• Dismissing blood or breath test results - Although chemical tests are a little more scientific than watching someone try to walk in a straight line down a hill, they too can be flawed.
• Challenging the stop - Police officers can sometimes be overzealous - to the point of violating your civil rights - when pulling over people from other states.

Contact a Knoxville, Tennessee Out of State DUI Lawyer

The Baker Law Firm works to make the process of defending against DUI charges easier for residents of other states. If you have been arrested for DUI while visiting Tennessee, contact us at 865-200-4117 for a complimentary consultation.