Tennessee’s DUI statute reveals that the legislature apparently thought that by the time a person garners a fourth DUI conviction, the message probably isn’t getting across anyway and that the fourth conviction is a logical stopping point for the increase of penalties. According to the statute, the fourth and any subsequent DUI convictions carry the same penalties:
(vi) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the fourth or subsequent conviction shall be a Class E felony punishable by a fine of not less than three thousand dollars ($3,000) nor more than fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000); by confinement for not less than one hundred fifty (150) consecutive days, to be served day for day, nor more than the maximum punishment authorized for the appropriate range of a Class E felony; and the court shall prohibit the person from driving a motor vehicle for a period of five (5) years. For the preceding sentence to apply, at least one (1) of the violations of § 55-10-401 must occur on or after July 1, 1998.
