Nashville Criminal Attorney Blog

Introduction When news broke that Tiger Woods was arrested for DUI, millions of people watched the bodycam footage. But most people missed the most important part. This wasn’t just a celebrity arrest — it was a textbook example of what not to do when dealing with police. And the same mistakes that hurt Tiger Woods…

Introduction If you’re pulled over in Tennessee, one of the most important questions is this: Can police search your car without your permission? Most people get this wrong — and that mistake can cost them their freedom. Let’s break it down in plain English. The Short Answer No — police generally cannot search your car…

Introduction If a police officer starts asking you questions, your instinct may be to cooperate. That’s a mistake. In Tennessee, you have a constitutional right that could protect you from being charged with a crime — but most people talk themselves into trouble before they ever call a lawyer. Let’s break this down clearly. The…

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…

These are the penalties for DUI in Tennessee.

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…

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)…

First, do NOT ignore it. It will not go away. We get clients with outstanding warrants against them all the time. Here, we handle it swiftly and efficeintly for all involved. You will need assistance in getting booked, and acquiring a bond by way of the magistrate. Finally, we will also coordinate the court appearances…

“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.…

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…