Tennessee DUI laws are strict. Anyone convicted of a first offense DUI must spend a minimum of 48 hours jail, up to maximum of 11 months 29 days. Clients are usually worried when they hear "mandatory minimum sentence" and are looking at jail time, even if they've...
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Could a criminal charge affect your immigration status?
Criminal charges don’t affect all people in the same way. For a U.S. citizen, an irresponsible night of drunk and disorderly conduct could result in spending an unpleasant night in jail. For an immigrant, however, a simple mistake could jeopardize their entire future...
Is your pending charge a crime of moral turpitude?
Even law-abiding citizens feel nervous sometimes when interacting with police. Immigrants might feel even more frightened during such encounters. Immigrants may have language barriers that impact the interaction. They may also worry because they know that criminal...
What happens if you are caught driving with a suspended license?
The state of Tennessee could suspend your driver’s license for a broad range of reasons. Maybe you have unpaid fines, or perhaps you had an alcohol-related driving infraction. However, just because the state suspended your license, that doesn't mean that your need for...
Criminal defense: What crimes will result in deportation?
Those who have immigrated to the United States may face harsh consequences for any alleged involvement in criminal activity. These possible consequences include immigration detention and deportation. Legal assistance is necessary to protect current immigration status...
What Should I Do During a Traffic Stop?
Know Your Rights during a Traffic Stop Seeing blue lights in your rear view mirror gives most people anxiety. Police officers need reasonable suspicion to stop and detain you, but Tennessee law also gives officers huge leeway in their "community caretaking" function...
Conozca Sus Derechos Durante una Parada de Tráfico
Ver luces azules en el espejo retrovisor generalmente causa ansiedad en la mayoría de las personas. Los oficiales de policía necesitan sospechas razonables para detenerlo y detenerlo, pero la ley de Tennessee también les da a los oficiales un gran...
Supreme Court: warrant isn’t generally needed to draw blood
In a 5-4 case, the United States Supreme Court ruled that a warrant is not generally needed to draw blood from an unconscious person suspected of DUI. In the case of Mitchell v. Wisconsin, the Court's Opinion stated that police are almost always allowed to order a...
Do I need a Tennessee Real ID?
The REAL ID Act of 2005 established security standards for the issuance of identifiction documents, and prohibited federal agencies from accepting those documents that did not adhere to the Act. It has been up to the individual states to issue driver licenses and...
Supreme Court extends exceptions to warrant requirement
In the recent 2019 case of State v. McElrath, the Tennessee Supreme Court adopted a good-faith exception to the requirement of a warrant when police officers make mistakes that are the result of negligence and not reckless disregard or a systemic error. Any evidence...
