Habitual Drunk Driving Offender Arrested for 17th Time

Being arrested for a DUI in Tennessee can be a very unsettling experience. Being arrested for drunk driving when one has multiple such arrests may be terrifying and can result in the suspension of one’s license and even more serious consequences. A recent accident involved a driver who had reportedly been arrested for 16 previous DUI infractions.

A woman who was said to be driving under the influence struck another vehicle in a recent accident. The driver of that vehicle suffered two broken bones in her face. The driver who hit her apparently has a history of 16 previous arrests for driving under the influence. Reportedly, her license was revoked in 1987.

The woman pleaded guilty to a DUI first offense, along with reckless endangerment and a habitual offender violation. When searching a person’s history for prior convictions for driving under the influence, Tennessee law only permits prosecutors to consider the past 10 years. The woman’s last DUI conviction was actually in 2001, though police are familiar with the woman’s history. She must serve 5 1/2 years in prison and will be eligible for parole after she has served 45 percent of her sentence.

Anyone facing charges for drunk driving in Tennessee is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law. An experienced attorney can ensure that one is aware of one’s rights and that those rights are protected throughout the criminal justice process. There are procedures that must be followed regarding field testing and testing for sobriety. It is up to the prosecution to prove guilt in court and beyond a reasonable doubt.