If you are visiting Nashville for vacation or work, there’s a good chance you have made your way down to the honky tonks of Lower Broadway. Sometimes the excitement of a night out with live music and/or Tennessee whiskey can result in an involuntary introduction to our local law enforcement. Along with this unfortunate encounter, you may have been provided with a citation or warrant with words like: public intoxication, disorderly conduct, assault, or vandalism. If this is the case, it is time to speak with an experienced lawyer.
While you may be someone who has never been accused of breaking the law, it is imperative that you take any criminal charge seriously in order to protect your rights and hopefully keep your record clean. Even something as seemingly minor as public intoxication can give a bad impression to a future employer conducting a background check. Matt Stephens is an experienced criminal defense lawyer and former Nashville prosecutor. He has the tools to help. Put your case in the hands of a dedicated and meticulous criminal lawyer. Call us now to begin developing a strategy to protect your rights!
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Public Intoxication is defined in Tennessee Code Annotated Section 39-17-310 as follows:
(a) A person commits the offense of public intoxication who appears in a public place under the influence of a controlled substance, controlled substance analogue or any other intoxicating substance to the degree that:
(1) The offender may be endangered;
(2) There is endangerment to other persons or property; or
(3) The offender unreasonably annoys people in the vicinity.
(b) A violation of this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
If you would like to review the code section yourself, here is a link to the Tennessee Code Annotated: https://www.tncourts.gov/Tennessee%20Code