If a child is harmed in a DUI incident, you may face felony charges.

• A. Yes
• B. No
• C. Only if there are other factors
• D. Only if the driver is under 18

Answer: (A)

When a child is harmed in a DUI incident, the offense can be charged as a felony because harming a minor is treated as a serious aggravating factor in Tennessee law. Driving under the influence that results in injury already increases penalties, and involving a child places the case into felony territory more readily, such as aggravated DUI or vehicular assault. This can occur regardless of the driver’s age, since protecting children and addressing the greater harm take precedence. So, yes, felony charges may apply. The other options don’t fit because the harm to a child itself is a key factor that pushes the case toward a felony, not contingent on other factors or the driver’s age.