Poor decision making is considered to be a significant negative side effect of alcohol consumption. Choosing to get behind the wheel of an automobile after drinking is a decision that can result in life-changing events for the driver and others who may be affected by that decision. Charges including drunk driving have been filed against a Tennessee man who police allege had been drinking and decided to flee arrest while being pulled over for what appeared to be an unrelated violation.

A Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper claims that the 44-year-old man was driving without his headlights on in Greeneville on the evening of Feb. 8. Driving a Toyota SUV, the man allegedly ignored the trooper’s warning lights and sirens and fled north on the Asheville Highway. The trooper claims that until running out of gas, the man drove recklessly and endangered other drivers. Allegations that the driver passed another vehicle on a double yellow line and swerved into oncoming traffic on more than one occasion have been made by the trooper. The official claims that the man said that he consumed two 25-ounce beers approximately one hour before the incident started.

The driver was allegedly unable to complete field sobriety tests. Charges for second-offense driving under the influence, reckless endangerment and felony evading arrest have been filed against him. He was held without bail until his court appearance two days later.

If convicted on the second-offense drunk driving charges alone, the accused man will face jail time, fines, required attendance in a DUI school and a two-year driver’s license suspension. Without legal representation, navigating the Tennessee court system and dealing with multiple offenses can be overwhelming. The best possible outcome will likely not be achieved without retaining legal counsel. An experienced attorney with detailed knowledge of Tennessee DUI laws and the criminal justice system can be critical in the developing the strongest possible defense against the charges.

Source: greenevillesun.com, “THP: Drunk Driver Fled From Trooper“, Feb. 9, 2017