If law enforcement personnel suspect that you are driving under the influence in Tennessee, they will most likely ask that you take a Breathalyzer test to obtain an estimation of the alcohol levels in your body. They also might ask you to take other, more subjective field sobriety tests, such as the Walk and Turn, One Leg Stand, and Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus tests. You are faced with an important choice when a police officer asks you to take a Breathalyzer test or field sobriety tests, so it is essential to know what the law requires of you at that moment, as well as following an arrest. Regardless of the circumstances of your arrest, you will want to work with an accomplished criminal defense attorney to aggressively defend your rights and minimize the potential consequences you may face.
Tennesse’s Implied Consent Law
In Tennessee, when motorists obtain their licenses, they automatically give consent to submit to a blood alcohol content (BAC) test if they are requested to do so by police. However, it is important to understand that implied consent does not apply to roadside breathalyzer tests or field sobriety tests. These tests can be refused, although this refusal may give an officer probable cause to arrest you on suspicion of drunk driving.
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