Tennessee's New DUI Law

Presumption of Intoxication Reduced from 0.10% Blood Alcohol Content to 0.08%, Effective July 1, 2003

December 20, 2002 -- During its 2002 session, the Tennessee General Assembly enacted a bill amending the State's "driving under the influence" statute, T.C.A. §55-10-401, to reduce the amount of alcohol in a driver's bloodstream needed to create a presumption of intoxication, from 0.10% to 0.08%, effective July 1, 2003.  The federal government had for practical purposes mandated this change by denying federal highway funds to any state which did not adopt this lower limit.

This change means that anyone who drinks alcohol and drives in Tennessee will need to be even more careful, to avoid being arrested, having to spend time in jail, posting bond, hiring a lawyer, paying a substantial fine, serving a mandatory jail sentence, and having his or her driver's license suspended for a year or more.

For more information about the process and possible consequences of a DUI arrest, please read my article in the Criminal section of this Web site.