McMinn Woman Fined $15,000 On Fourth DUI

[CMF Newsman]

A McMinn County jury needed a total of 10 minutes to find Patti Tuccillo guilty of fourth-offense DUI. The jury fined Ms. Tuccillo $15,0000.

Ms. Tuccillo also faces a sentence of up to two years in jail.

The day-long trial had two phases. In the first phase, the jury heard from prosecutor Paul Rush about a traffic stop of Ms. Tuccillo by Officer Charles Nelms of the Etowah Police Department. Because she exhibited many signs of intoxication, Ms. Tuccillo was asked to submit to a blood test. The blood test results showed the presence of marijuana and two different prescription medications.

Taking the stand in her own defense, Ms. Tuccillo said she had used marijuana and taken different pills, but several days prior to the incident. Ms. Tuccillo did not have a prescription for the medications found in her system.

www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_104990.asp

[el Gusano]

Why is this all that she is facing for a 4th offense?

I'm all for second chances, but this seems to be more in line with what the possible penalty for a first offense should be.

[xterragirl]

HA! Not likely. The jerk that hit my son head on last year received is 3rd DUI for that little episode and 6 months later, he got the 4th. I think he is waiting to go to trial on my son's accident. The punishment for DUI around here is joke.

[Zaray]

I have to agree that DUI punishment in Chattanooga is ridiculous.

My ex is currently serving 4 months in Silverdale for his 4th DUI. He did 48 hrs each for the first three DUIs - then got his 4th DUI while under a suspended sentence for the 3rd. So his suspended sentence was revoked, and he was placed under 6 months house arrest for the 3rd. After that was over, he was sentenced to 11m-29d for the 4th DUI but only has to serve 4 months with good behavior. When he gets out he gets to wear a SCRAM bracelet for 6 months. yay for Division II of Criminal Court!

Compared to this joke of a punishment, the McMinn woman got shafted.

[tcrashfx]

Tennessee has some of the weakest DUI repeat offender sentences in the entire US.

Wanna whack your spouse and get away with it?

Move to Tennessee, get drunk off your ass, and run the spouse's (Or insert any enemy here) ass over with your vehicle. Make sure you do it on a public access highway!

Much cheaper than a divorce and all you have to do is wear an orange suit for a few weekends.

If it is fall, people may think you just are a Tennessee Volunteer fan doing your part to alleviate litter.

[Longshot! [ Saint ]]

...!

[el Gusano]

So, if you want a divorce, instead of dumping her body down a well, just wait for her to cross the street?

[Deleted]

As the bumper sticker said, "Don't like the way I drive? Get off the sidewalk."