What statute defines DUI in Tennessee?

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-10-401 is the controlling DUI statute in Tennessee. You can read the current text on the official code site at law.justia.com.

What is the Tennessee implied-consent law?

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-10-406 is the implied-consent provision. It sets out the consequences of refusing a chemical test after a lawful DUI arrest.

Tennessee DUI Statutes: The Code Sections That Control Your Case

The statutes that control Tennessee DUI cases

DUI in Tennessee is defined by Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-10-401, and the chemical-testing rules sit in Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-10-406. Both are published in the official state code at law.justia.com, which is the only version that governs — summaries elsewhere, including ours, can lag amendments.

Tennessee official code — DUI statute

Statutory text, definitions, BAC thresholds and sentencing ranges.

Implied-consent provision

What refusing a breath, blood or urine test costs you.

Statute at a glance

Tennessee DUI law at a glance

Sourced from the Tennessee code and state agency sites. Verify current text before relying on it.

Offense name: DUI (Tennessee)
Controlling statute: Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-10-401
Implied consent: Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-10-406
Per se BAC limit: 0.08 (0.04 CDL, 0.02 or lower under 21)
Prior-offense lookback: 10 years
First-offense fine: $350–$1,500
First-offense jail exposure: up to 11 days
Licence suspension: 1 year
Ignition interlock: Required on a first offense in most cases
Trial court: the General Sessions Court or Criminal Court
High-risk filing: SR-22 for 3 years

A first offense carries a mandatory minimum 48 hours in jail and interlock.

First-offense exposure under Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-10-401: $350–$1,500, up to 11 days of jail exposure, and a 1 year licence suspension. A first offense carries a mandatory minimum 48 hours in jail and interlock.

What Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-10-401 actually says

T.C.A. § 55-10-401(a)(1) — driving or being in physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant, marijuana, narcotic or impairing drug.
T.C.A. § 55-10-401(a)(2) — driving with an alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or more.
T.C.A. § 55-10-409 — limits on restricted licence eligibility after a suspension under § 55-10-404.

Charging documents cite the exact subsection, so check which one appears on your citation. The posted text on law.justia.com carries an effective date — amendments passed after it are not yet reflected.

Other Tennessee sections that control the case

T.C.A. § 55-10-406

The implied consent law.

T.C.A. § 40-35-313

Judicial diversion and its exclusions.

Tennessee ZIP codes covered

These Tennessee ZIP-code pages carry the local court, filing and licensing detail for the area, and each one links back to this resource page.

Browse all Tennessee ZIP codes.

Counties and cities using these Tennessee resources

Other Tennessee official resources

Tennessee DUI Courts: Where Your Case Is Heard Tennessee Driver Licensing After a DUI: Hearings, Reinstatement & SR-22

Frequently asked questions

What statute defines DUI in Tennessee?: Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-10-401 is the controlling DUI statute in Tennessee. You can read the current text on the official code site at law.justia.com.
What is the Tennessee implied-consent law?: Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-10-406 is the implied-consent provision. It sets out the consequences of refusing a chemical test after a lawful DUI arrest.