10 Things to Know If You’re Pulled Over for DUI in Mt. Juliet | Turnbow Law
Blue lights on Interstate 40 or Mt. Juliet Road can turn a normal drive into a criminal case within minutes. At Turnbow Law, many DUI clients wish they had known their rights before the officer reached the window. Here are ten things every driver should understand about a DUI stop in Mt. Juliet, followed by five Middle Tennessee attorneys you can contact afterward.
What should you know during a DUI stop in Mt. Juliet?
1. What do you have to hand over?
Your license, registration, and proof of insurance. Pull over somewhere safe, turn on the interior light at night, and keep your hands visible.
2. Do you have to answer questions about drinking?
No. You can politely decline to say where you were or how much you drank. Under Tennessee Rule of Evidence 803(1.2), anything you say can be used against you, and “just two beers” is one of the most common admissions in DUI reports.
3. Are field sobriety tests required?
Tennessee’s implied consent law covers chemical tests, not roadside exercises. The standardized tests officers use, developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, are horizontal gaze nystagmus (an eye-tracking test), the walk-and-turn, and the one-leg stand. Nerves, footwear, and medical conditions affect results.
4. Can you be charged if you’re under 0.08?
Yes. Tenn. Code Ann. 55-10-401 makes it illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher, or while impaired by alcohol or drugs at any level. For drivers under 21, the limit is 0.02.
5. What happens if you refuse a breath or blood test?
Under Tennessee’s implied consent law, Tenn. Code Ann. 55-10-406, refusing a chemical test after a lawful DUI arrest leads to a one-year license revocation for a first refusal, according to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. That penalty is separate from the DUI charge.
6. Can the police draw your blood without your consent?
With a search warrant, yes. Officers can seek a warrant for a blood draw when a driver refuses, so refusing doesn’t always keep the test from happening.
What happens after a DUI arrest in Mt. Juliet?
7. Where will your case be heard?
Mt. Juliet sits in Wilson County, so most DUI arrests there are booked through the county and start in Wilson County General Sessions Court.
8. Will you need an ignition interlock on bond?
Possibly. Tenn. Code Ann. 40-11-118 requires an ignition interlock as a bond condition when certain factors are present, such as a prior DUI conviction or a child in the vehicle.
9. What are the penalties for a first DUI?
The Department of Safety lists 48 hours to 11 months and 29 days in jail, a $350 to $1,500 fine, and a one-year license revocation, with a restricted license available. A BAC of 0.20 or higher raises the minimum jail time to seven days.
10. Can a DUI be diverted or erased?
Generally not. DUI is excluded from judicial diversion under Tenn. Code Ann. 40-35-313, and a conviction counts as a prior for 10 years if you’re charged again.
Who can help after a DUI stop in Mt. Juliet?
- Turnbow Law (Chad Turnbow, Esq.)
- Melanie R. Bean, Lannom & Williams
- Hope Ford, Hagar & Phillips
- Blake Kelley
- Jill Z. Grim
1. Turnbow Law (Chad Turnbow, Esq.)
Turnbow Law is a Mt. Juliet criminal defense practice led by attorney Chad Turnbow, Esq. The firm represents people charged with DUI and other misdemeanors and felonies across Middle Tennessee, including Lebanon, Gallatin, Hendersonville, Portland, and Nashville. Its practice also covers drug charges, domestic violence, assault, theft, probation violations, and juvenile cases.
For a DUI, that can include reviewing the stop and the testing, addressing an implied consent charge, and helping with restricted license questions. Every case depends on its own facts, and prior results don’t guarantee a similar outcome.
2. Melanie R. Bean, Lannom & Williams
Melanie R. Bean practices with Lannom & Williams in the Mt. Juliet area.
3. Hope Ford, Hagar & Phillips
Hope Ford practices with Hagar & Phillips in the Lebanon and Wilson County area.
4. Blake Kelley
Blake Kelley is an attorney serving the Hermitage, Donelson, and Madison area.
5. Jill Z. Grim
Jill Z. Grim is an attorney practicing in the Hendersonville area.
Know your rights before the lights come on
A DUI stop moves fast, and most of the evidence in a case is gathered in the first 20 minutes. Stay calm, keep answers short, and know what refusing a test costs. If you’ve been arrested, talk with a DUI defense attorney before your first court date so deadlines for your license and your case don’t slip by.
