A Tennessee man is facing criminal charges after he encountered a DUI checkpoint in Anderson County. As he came to the checkpoint, law enforcement officers claim that they smelled alcohol in the vehicle and on the breath of the driver. He was arrested for drunk driving after admitting to taking several shots in the hours leading up to getting behind the wheel of the vehicle.

The driver informed police that he had a gun in the car, and there was a female passenger in the front seat who also appeared to be intoxicated. As he was asked to step out of his vehicle, the driver was allegedly unsteady on his feet. Reportedly, he failed a Breathalyzer test. The test is said to have registered his BAC at .117, which is above the legal limit for Tennessee drivers.

The man was officially charged with driving under the influence and possession of a handgun while under the influence. Readers will note that he has not yet been convicted of these crimes, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proved otherwise. He has the right to a defense and, with the help of an experienced attorney, may seek an outright acquittal or lesser penalties to these charges.

When facing charges of drunk driving, it is critical to confront the formal accusations with a strong defense. Conviction could bring penalties that may include jail time, fines, loss of driving privileges and irreversible damage to one’s reputation. Criminal charges should not be underestimated, and a person may learn more about specific defense options by seeking a complete case evaluation as soon as possible after an arrest.

Source: wric.com, “East Tennessee man arrested for possible DUI wearing chastity device“, June 7, 2016