Chattanooga Felony DUI Attorney

Fighting Felony DUI Charges Across Tennessee & Georgia Since Day One

All DUI charges carry serious consequences: jail time, fines, probation, and license suspension. But a felony DUI conviction is in a different category entirely. Most DUI charges, even those with aggravating factors, are prosecuted as misdemeanors. Three scenarios change that entirely.

• A fourth or subsequent DUI conviction within the 10-year lookback period under T.C.A. § 55-10-405 is a Class E felony.
• A DUI causing serious bodily injury to another person (vehicular assault) is a Class D felony.
• A DUI causing death (vehicular homicide by intoxication under T.C.A. § 39-13-213) is a Class C felony, or Class A when aggravating factors apply.

A felony DUI conviction doesn’t just mean a longer sentence. Under Tennessee law, felony convictions cannot be expunged, so the record follows you into every background check, every job application, and every housing inquiry. The Chattanooga felony DUI attorneys at Abbott, Weiss, Faith & Darnell, PLLC represent clients in both Tennessee and Georgia. Our team brings more than 60 years of combined criminal defense experience, and multiple attorneys hold Super Lawyers recognition: Barry L. Abbott (Super Lawyers 2023–2024), Joshua P. Weiss (Rising Star 2021–2025), Brittany Faith (Rising Star since 2017, Avvo 10.0 Superb Rating), and Zachery Darnell (Rising Stars 2022–2023). We offer free consultations.

Charged with felony DUI? Contact our firm online or call (423) 264-2206 for a free consultation with a Chattanooga felony DUI lawyer.

Felony DUI Penalties in Tennessee

Penalties vary by felony class, but every felony DUI carries lasting consequences beyond the sentence itself. Felony convictions are permanent public record under T.C.A. § 40-32-101 and can’t be expunged. This immediately affects employment, housing, professional licensing, and the right to possess firearms.

Penalty ranges by felony class under Tennessee law:

• Class E Felony DUI (Fourth DUI within 10 years): Mandatory minimum 150 consecutive days served day-for-day, up to 6 years, fines up to $15,000 per T.C.A. § 55-10-402, 8-year license revocation, mandatory ignition interlock device installation
• Class D Felony DUI (Fifth DUI or DUI Causing Serious Bodily Injury (Vehicular Assault)): 2 to 12 years, 8-year license revocation, mandatory ignition interlock device installation
• Class C Felony DUI (Sixth or Subsequent DUI under T.C.A. § 55-10-402 or Vehicular Homicide by Intoxication under T.C.A. § 39-13-213): Up to 15 years, 8-year license revocation, mandatory ignition interlock device installation
• Class A Felony (Aggravated Vehicular Homicide under T.C.A. § 39-13-218): 15 to 60 years, applicable when prior DUI convictions or an elevated BAC combined with a prior conviction are present

A temporary restricted license may be available during the revocation period for travel to work, school, or alcohol treatment. But the full weight of a felony conviction extends well beyond the sentence itself.

How Felony DUI Cases Move Through Hamilton County Courts

Felony DUI charges in Chattanooga are prosecuted by the Hamilton County District Attorney General’s Office. After arrest, the case begins in General Sessions Court, where a preliminary hearing determines whether probable cause supports the charge. If it does, the case proceeds to the grand jury and, upon indictment, moves into Hamilton County Criminal Court.

How quickly you retain defense counsel affects what’s available to you. Dashcam and bodycam footage, blood sample records, and radio traffic recordings are subject to routine destruction if not preserved through timely legal action. The District Attorney’s Office also weighs factors like prior record, BAC results, and voluntary participation in alcohol treatment when evaluating whether to resolve a case before trial. Defense counsel engaged from the start can shape those conversations.

Defending Against Felony DUI Charges

Being charged with felony DUI doesn’t mean conviction is inevitable. We investigate the facts, evaluate the evidence, and build a defense around the specific circumstances of your case. When trial is the right path, we’re prepared to take it.

The prosecution bears the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. You don’t have to prove innocence. In many cases, we can challenge evidence and move to have it suppressed, which can lead the prosecution to reduce charges or reconsider how it proceeds. If the case goes to trial, our job is to give the jury genuine reason to doubt the prosecution’s account.

Barry L. Abbott has conducted more than 30 jury trials in civil and criminal courts in Tennessee. Joshua P. Weiss has focused his practice almost entirely on criminal and DUI defense since 2011, from misdemeanor charges through high-profile trials. Whether you’re facing a Class E, D, C, or A felony DUI, our attorneys are prepared across every classification. We can also challenge whether the prior DUI convictions used to elevate your charge were legally valid. A successful challenge can sometimes reduce a felony back to a misdemeanor. Every defense we build is tailored to the facts of the individual case.

Get Started on Your Defense Today: Call (423) 264-2206

When you need serious legal representation for a felony DUI charge, turn to Abbott, Weiss, Faith & Darnell, PLLC. Our attorneys have spent decades handling criminal cases across Tennessee and Georgia. We know what these charges require, and we’re ready to get to work.

Call (423) 264-2206 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.