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2021 Tennessee Code
Title 55 - Motor and Other Vehicles
Chapter 10 - Accidents, Crimes and Penalties
Part 4 - Alcohol and Drug Related Offenses
§ 55-10-405. Prior Convictions — Driving Record as Evidence
Universal Citation: TN Code § 55-10-405 (2021)
- Except as provided in subsection (c), for the sole purpose of enhancing the punishment for a violation a person who is convicted of a violation of § 55-10-401 shall not be considered a repeat or multiple offender and subject to the penalties prescribed in this part if ten (10) or more years have elapsed between the date of the present violation and the date of any immediately preceding violation of § 55-10-401 that resulted in a conviction for such offense. If, however, the date of a person's violation of § 55-10-401 is within ten (10) years of the date of the present violation, then the person shall be considered a multiple offender and is subject to the penalties imposed upon multiple offenders by this part. If a person is considered a multiple offender under this part, then every violation of § 55-10-401 that resulted in a conviction for such offense occurring within ten (10) years of the date of the immediately preceding violation shall be considered in determining the number of prior offenses. However, a violation occurring more than twenty (20) years from the date of the instant violation shall never be considered a prior offense for that purpose.
- If a person is convicted of a violation of § 55-10-401 in this state, for purposes of determining if the person is a multiple offender, the state may use a conviction for an offense committed in another state that would constitute the offense of driving under the influence of an intoxicant under § 55-10-401, vehicular assault under § 39-13-106, aggravated vehicular assault under § 39-13-115, vehicular homicide under § 39-13-213(a)(2), or aggravated vehicular homicide under § 39-13-218, if committed in this state. If an offense in a jurisdiction other than this state is not identified as one (1) of the offenses named in this subsection (b), it shall be considered a prior conviction if the elements of the offense are the same as the elements of the comparable offense in this state.
- For purposes of determining if a person convicted of a violation of § 55-10-401 is a multiple offender, a prior conviction for vehicular assault under § 39-13-106, aggravated vehicular assault under § 39-13-115, vehicular homicide under § 39-13-213(a)(2), or aggravated vehicular homicide under § 39-13-218 shall be treated the same as a prior conviction for driving under the influence of an intoxicant under § 55-10-401; provided, the person was convicted of the prior offense at any time before committing the present violation of § 55-10-401, regardless of whether the prior offense occurred within ten (10) years of the date of the present violation.
- A certified computer printout of the official driver record maintained by the department of safety shall constitute prima facie evidence of any prior conviction. Following indictment by a grand jury, the defendant shall be given a copy of the department of safety printout at the time of arraignment. If the charge is by warrant, the defendant is entitled to a copy of the department printout at the defendant's first appearance in court or at least fourteen (14) days prior to a trial on the merits. If the defendant alleges error in the driving record in a written motion, the court may require that a certified copy of the judgment be provided for inspection by the court as to validity prior to the introduction of the department printout into evidence.
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