Yes.  In Tennessee, you can actually LOSE YOUR VEHICLE for Driving Under the Influence.  The requirements are very specific.  If you are convicted of two DUI offenses, that occurred within 5 years of each other, and one of them was committed on or after January 1, 1997, your vehicle is subject to forfeiture. One of the requirements is that “only POST certified” police officers (commissioned by the State of Tennessee) can initiate a forfeiture warrant under this section. The purpose of this statute was intended to be “remedial measures” and NOT punishment. The intent of the forfe ..read more

This blog is written as of February 2023, and the information in this article is accurate for its time. But the law on DUI changes FREQUENTLY in Tennessee. Actually, nearly every year there are amendments or additions that change certain parts of the law. In Tennessee, the punishment for a DUI is fierce. Even for a first offense. There are so many criminal offenses that you can commit, as a first offender, that you can eventually get expunged from your public record. But in Tennessee, NOT a DUI. This list is not exclusive, but includes most of the significant consequences of a DUI. Jail You ..read more

The short answer to this question (which we get alot, actually) is “no”. Just because you blew over the legal limit, or maybe you did poorly on the Field Sobriety Tests doesn’t mean that you will be convicted of DUI. But, you MUST hire an experienced DUI attorney immediately. There are so many things that we can do for you to mitigate your potential jail time, and/or your punishment in general. We can even save your drivers license from being suspended in some cases. Here’s why. Officers make MISTAKES! There are so many areas for officers to make mistakes. And mistakes can (and do) affect the ..read more

Can I legally record a police encounter? I get the question alot, and believe it or not in some jurisdictions my answer used to be different. But now, generally speaking, it is legal to record a police encounter in every state in the United States, unless it would interfere with an investigation (hard to prove) or create some kind of safety hazard, and in some cases possibly when you are on private property. Most courts agree that the First Amendment to the Constitution gives you the right to record – with pictures, audio, and video – police officers who are on duty (or off duty) whi ..read more

“I left the scene of an accident last night, and don’t know what to do.” I get this call all the time. Usually because someone got scared and left the scene of an accident, either leaving their car on the scene because of damage, or driving away and going home or to a safe location. NOW WHAT? Well, we handle these kinds of cases all the time. But there is no quesiton you need to hire an attorney IMMEDIATELY. This is not something you should even attempt to navigate yourself. My advice to these callers depends on many factors. First, did they drive away, or run away? Is the car still on the sc ..read more

Prominent Nashville Attorney David Ridings is running for General Sessions Judge in Davidson County! Becoming a judge is not just the next step in his career. It’s his calling. Mr. Ridings has prepared his entire life to fill the role of a judge. He has experience working on every side of the legal system. He has protected and served his community as a police officer for nearly a decade, working first for the Murfreesboro Police Department and then the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. During his last year of law school, Mr. Ridings practiced law in the Davidson County District Attorn ..read more

Attorney David Ridings recently received advanced level training on how to use medical information from DUI cases in order to obtain successful results in court. This training was given by the American Association of Premier DUI Attorneys, a professional legal organization that specializes in providing its members with valuable resources and tools to greatly benefit their DUI defense practices. Attorney Ridings learned how police departments and emergency medical staff interact and act when dealing with a suspected DUI offender. Since both have different priorities during such incidents, cont ..read more

Meet Our Nashville Criminal Defense Attorney Want to know more about the former police officer who now fights to defend the accused? Read on! Please describe a case(s) in the last year or two where you made a big difference. One of the cases I am most proud of in recent years is for a DUI second offense where I was able to secure a not-guilty verdict at trial. My client, the passenger of a vehicle that was driven by his wife, was drinking a bottle of whiskey and his son was in the backseat. Remember, he was the passenger! While his wife went into the grocery store, he and his son waited in t ..read more

As a former police officer, Attorney David Ridings knows a defense attorney’s dozen do’s! What you should do if you’re stopped by the police… 1. Be polite and respectful. Do not swear or become belligerent to a police officer. 2. Stay in control of your words, body language and emotions. 3. Do not argue with the police. 4. Remember anything you say or do can be used against you in a court of law. 5. Keep your hands where the police can see them. If you have a weapon tell the officer immediately 6. Never try to run. Do not touch a police officer- you could be charged with assault or resisting ..read more

Consuming alcoholic beverages as an adult (21yrs and older) is perfectly legal and socially acceptable. However there are legal limits to the amount of consumption and then operating a vehicle in the state of Tennessee. While a small amount of alcohol may be relaxing, too much can easily put you over the limit and you could be classified as legally intoxicated. Social drinking can be a form of relaxation, but those limits can be easily abused. If you exceed those limits and become legally intoxicated, operating a vehicle in an intoxicated state can lead to serious and embarrassing problems if ..read more