DUI Defense Attorneys in Knoxville, Tennessee

Have you been charged with a DUI in Knoxville or the surrounding East Tennessee area? The experienced Knoxville DUI defense lawyers at Wykoff & Sikes are here to protect your rights and your future. A DUI arrest can be overwhelming and intimidating, but you don’t have to face it alone.

Our attorneys meticulously review every detail of your case to uncover errors and weaknesses in the prosecution’s evidence. Using the combined power of legal strategy, technology, professional investigators, and expert testimony, we work to identify where the State of Tennessee may have failed to meet its burden of proof in your DUI case.

Why You Shouldn’t Face a DUI Alone

A DUI arrest is not only stressful — it can also be deeply embarrassing. Many people feel tempted to simply plead guilty and move on, but doing so without legal advice can lead to long-term consequences. A DUI conviction in Tennessee carries serious penalties, including:

• Mandatory jail time
• Loss or suspension of your driver’s license
• Significant fines and court costs
• Increased insurance premiums
• A permanent criminal record

At Wykoff & Sikes, we have successfully represented hundreds of Tennessee residents charged with DUI. Our attorneys know how to challenge the evidence, negotiate with prosecutors, and fight to have charges reduced, dismissed, or lessened to minimize the impact on your life.

Protect Your Rights Immediately

If you’ve been arrested for a DUI, remember:

• You have the right to remain silent.
• You have the right to an attorney.

Exercise both of these rights immediately. Anything you say can be used against you in court — so speak to an experienced Knoxville DUI attorney before making any decisions or statements.

Our team will guide you through every stage of the process, from your initial hearing to trial preparation, ensuring your rights are protected and your case is handled with skill and precision.

DUI Attorneys Working for You and Your Rights!

We can assist you with all kinds of DUI-related cases, including:

• DUI Driver’s License Reinstatements
• Felony DUI
• First Offense DUI Charge
• Second and Subsequent DUI Offenses

Defending Your Rights

A DUI arrest usually begins with a traffic stop by a police officer. The officer must comply with strict protocols and guidelines before initiating the stop to ensure that your rights are not violated. To pull you over, an officer needs reasonable suspicion or probable cause. We can use any mistakes made by the officer during the stop and the arrest in your defense. Our Knoxville DUI defense attorneys will investigate the details of your arrest and the circumstances surrounding it. When necessary and appropriate, we will examine and challenge the results of BAC testing. If there are any details that could help your case, we will find them, and we will remain by your throughout the entire process.

What Is a DUI Tennessee?

In Tennessee, impaired driving is presumed if you have a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or higher. If you are under 21, impaired driving is found when you have a BAC of .02 or higher. If you are a commercial driver – BAC at or above .04 percent is above the legal limit.

What Is Implied Consent?

When a driver is pulled over for suspicion of DUI, the implied consent laws in Tennessee apply. Refusing the chemical test can result in a one-year suspension of your license. If you refuse to take the chemical test, you may still face DUI charges.

Will I Go to Jail if I Am Convicted of A DUI?

In Tennessee, there are mandatory, minimum penalties if you are convicted for DUI. These penalties depend on the number of times you have been convicted of a DUI offense in ther past.

The potential minimum penalties include:

• First offense: 48 hours in jail, $350 fine, loss of driving privileges for one year
• Second offense: 45 days in jail, $600 fine, loss of driving privileges for two years
• Third offense: 120 days in jail, $1,100 fine, loss of driver’s privileges for three years
• Fourth offense: 150 days in jail, $2,500 fine, loss of driving privileges for five years

What Are Other Consequences of A DUI?

In addition to potential jail time, fines, and a loss of driving privileges, you may face other consequences if you are convicted. For example, you may be required to install an ignition interlock device on your vehicle. If you are CDL holder – you can lose your CDL and your ability to earn a living if you are a commercial truck driver. A third or subsequent DUI offense is considered a felony. Lastly, getting a criminal record could be detrimental to the rest of your life.

Can I Drive After Being Arrested for DUI?

Yes, driver’s licenses are not affected until a judge suspends them. If your case is ultimately dismissed, you may never lose your driving privileges. However, if you are convicted of DUI or implied consent, the judge must suspend your license for at least one year. It is still possible to get to work or school utilizing a restricted driver’s license.

Contact a Knoxville DUI Defense Attorney Today for Help!

If you have been charged with a DUI offense in Tennessee, the Knoxville DUI defense lawyers at Wykoff & Sikes, PLLC  will help you get the best defense possible based on the facts and circumstances of your case. Contact our attorneys as quickly as possible after your arrest so that our Tennessee DUI defense lawyers can conduct a prompt investigation of the circumstances surrounding your case. A thorough investigation by a trained team of DUI defense lawyers will increase your chances of obtaining a favorable outcome for your case.

Attorney at Law

Wayne Wykoff

Wayne focuses his practice in the areas of social security disability and domestic law (including divorce, child custody, child support). Wayne was admitted to the practice of law in 1993 and his practice continually in east Tennessee since that time achieving good and just result for his clients on a regular basis. Wayne enjoys mediating and is a rule 31 listed family mediator in Tennessee. Wayne can give you value as a mediator whether you are negotiating retirement accounts and other complex financial issues or dealing with the much more important issues of who will raise the children and under what circumstances.

Wayne graduated from East Tennessee State University in 1980 with a degree in computer science and graduated from the University Tennessee law school in December 1992. Wayne was admitted to the Tennessee bar in April 1993 and was admitted to the federal courts in the Eastern District of Tennessee in 1993 also.

Wayne was born and raised in Johnson City, but has called Knoxville his home for the last 25+ years. Wayne enjoys his family consisting of his wife and 2 boys and playing tennis and golf on a regular basis.