THP Launches Crackdown: "Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest."
Tuesday, December 15, 2009 | 10:25am
Major Holiday Enforcement Seeks to Save Lives One Stop at a Time
NASHVILLE --- Drunk driving is one of America’s deadliest crimes. In 2008, 327 people died in highway crashes in Tennessee involving a driver or motorcycle rider with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. That’s an 11 percent decline from the 377 alcohol-related deaths in 2007. As part of National Drunk & Drugged Driving Prevention Month, the Tennessee Highway Patrol will be stepping up its enforcement crackdown to find and remove impaired drivers from Tennessee roadways. Troopers will be conducting more than 100 sobriety and driver license checkpoints now through the New Year’s holiday to get drunk drivers off the road.
“The purpose of this effort is to save lives,” said Governor Phil Bredesen. “I urge all Tennesseans and travelers passing through our state to obey the laws designed to keep them safe, not only through the holidays but whenever they get behind the wheel.”
“Ensuring the safety and general welfare of the public isn’t just a cliché but a mission the Department of Safety takes seriously,” stated Department of Safety Commissioner Dave Mitchell. “That is why the THP will be joining with hundreds of law enforcement agencies across the state from December 16 to January 3, 2010, to take part in this crackdown on impaired driving called Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.”
The holiday season is one of the deadliest and most dangerous times of the year due to an increase in impaired driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in December 2008, 888 people were killed nationwide in crashes that involved a drunk driver with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher. That was down from 992 people killed in similar impaired driving crashes in 2007. In Tennessee, in December 2008, eight people were killed in crashes that involved a drunk driver with a known BAC of .08 or higher compared to 12 people in December 2007.
“The holidays are about gathering together with friends and family to celebrate the joys of the season, but no amount of good cheer will save people from the consequences of impaired driving,” said Tennessee Highway Patrol Colonel Mike Walker. “Impaired driving is against the law and Troopers will be out in force working to save lives by making sure drunk and drugged drivers are kept off the road. If we catch you, we will arrest you. No exceptions. No excuses.”
The 2009 Christmas holiday period begins Thursday, December 24th, at 6:00 p.m., and runs through Sunday, December 27, at 11:59 p.m. During the 2008 Christmas holiday period, nine people were killed in traffic crashes on Tennessee roadways. This represents one death every 11 hours and 20 minutes. Alcohol was involved in nearly 29 percent of those crashes and four of the seven motorists killed were not wearing safety restraints.
The 2009 New Year’s holiday period begins at 6:00 p.m., Thursday, December 31, 2009, and will end 11:59 p.m. Sunday, January 3, 2010. Last year, 2008-09, 12 people were killed during the New Year’s holiday period and 42 percent of the fatalities occurred in alcohol-related crashes.
There is an impression that drunk driving is predominantly a male issue, but statistics show that’s not the case. During the past decade, research shows the number of drunk female drivers involved in fatal crashes has increased in 10 states including Tennessee. Between 2004 and 2008 the number of impaired driver crashes in Tennessee fell from 13,242 to 12,033, a decline of nearly nine percent. However, during that same period, the number of impaired female drivers in crashes increased by 4.7 percent while the number of impaired male drivers involved in crashes decreased more than 13 percent.
If you are planning to drink alcohol with family and friends, there are several simple steps to help avoid a tragic crash or trauma and the financial costs associated with an impaired driving arrest.
- Plan ahead: Whenever you plan on consuming alcohol, designate your sober driver before going out and give that person your keys.
- If you’re impaired, call a taxi, use mass transit or call a sober friend or family member to get you home safely.
- Wearing your seat belt or using protective gear when on your motorcycle is your best defense against an impaired driver.
- And remember, “Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk”. If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.
- Violators often face jail time, the loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, and dozens of other unanticipated expenses from attorney fees, other fines and court costs, towing and repairs, lost time at work, etc.
In 2008, there were 1,043 traffic fatalities in Tennessee, down nearly 14 percent from 1,211 fatalities in 2007. As of December 15, preliminary statistics indicate that 903 people have died on Tennessee roadways, a decline of 96 deaths (10 percent) compared to 999 fatalities at this same time a year ago.
Statistics for the 2008 Christmas period and the 2008-2009 New Year’s Holiday are attached. Below is a list of the sobriety and driver license checkpoints scheduled for the upcoming holidays.
For more information, please visit www.StopImpairedDriving.org.
The Tennessee Department of Safety’s mission is (www.TN.Gov/safety) to ensure the safety and general welfare of the public. The department encompasses the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Office of Homeland Security and Driver License Services. General areas of responsibility include law enforcement, safety education, motorist services and terrorism prevention.
TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY
DRIVER LICENSE & SOBRIETY CHECKPOINTS
DIST. 1 KNOXVILLE
Wednesday, December 23
DL CHECKPOINT LOUNDON COUNTY E. TELLICO PARKWAY NEAR AFTERNOON
HWY 411
DL CHECKPOINT SEVIER COUNTY SR 338 AFTERNOON
Thursday, December 24
DL CHECKPOINT ANDERSON COUNTY SR 170 @ THE CUB SUBSTATION MORNING
DL CHECKPOINT KNOX COUNTY CHEROKEE TRAIL EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT LOUDON COUNTY HWY 72 @ MAYO RD MORNING
Saturday, December 26
DL CHECKPOINT UNION COUNTY LOYSTON RD @ HANDARD RD EVENING
Sunday, December 26
DL CHECKPOINT SEVIER COUNTY WHITESCHOOL RD @ EVENING
SUGAR LOAF RD
Wednesday, December 30
DL CHECKPOINT SCOTT COUNTY US 27 @ BEAR CREEK MORNING
Thursday, December 31
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT ANDERSON COUNTY HWY 62 NEAR UNION VALLEY RD EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT LOUDON COUNTY HWY 11 SOUTH OF RIVER BRIDGE AFTERNOON
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT MONROE COUNTY US 411 SOUTH @ MAXWELL RD MORNING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT MORGAN COUNTY HWY 62 @ HWY 116 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT ROANE COUNTY HWY 382 @ CHURCH OF LATTER EVENING
DAY SAINTS
Friday, January 1
DL CHECKPOINT KNOX COUNTY HWY 33 @ CALEB STREET MORNING
DL CHECKPOINT MORGAN COUNTY HWY 62 @ 116 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT ANDERSON COUNTY SR 61 @ MARLOW FIRE DEPT AFTERNOON
DIST. 2 CHATTANOOGA
Saturday, December 26
DL CHECKPOINT HAMILTON COUNTY EAST 38TH ST @ BFI EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT SEQUATCHIE COUNTY HWY 28 @ STONE COVE EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT POLK COUNTY SR 314 @ US 64 INTERSECTION EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT COFFEE COUNTY HWY 41 @ HWY 280 EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT RHEA COUNTY DELAWARE AVENUE EVENING
Thursday, December 31
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT HAMILTON COUNTY BOY SCOUT RD @ SANDSWITCH RD EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT BLEDSOE COUNTY US 127 @ VOCATIONAL SCHOOL EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT BRADLEY COUNTY US HWY 11 SOUTH OF APD 40 EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT FRANKLIN COUNTY HWY 122 @ HUNTLAND CITY EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT MCMINN COUNTY SR 305 COUNTY RD 250 EVENING
DIST. 3 NASHVILLE
Thursday, December 24
DL CHECKPOINT ROBERTSON COUNTY OLD GREENBRIER HWY & AFTERNOON
OAKLAND RD
Saturday, December 26
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT CHEATHAM COUNTY SR 49 @ BLUFF CREEK RD EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT SUMNER COUNTY HWY 31 E @ ROUNTREE EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT HUMPHREYS COUNTY HWY 13 @ WILDWOOD VALLEY AFTERNOON
Monday, December 28
DL CHECKPOINT MONTGOMVERY COUNTY SR 374 SOUTH OF LAFAYETTE RD MORNING
DL CHECKPOINT SUMNER COUNTY HWY 25 @ COTTONTOWN EVENING
Tuesday, December 29
DL CHECKPOINT SUMNER COUNTY HWY 231 @ TOM BEASLEY EVENING
Thursday, December 31
DL CHECKPOINT RUTHERFORD COUNTY WARRIOR DR EAST OF HWY 99 AFTERNOON
DL CHECKPOINT ROBERTSON COUNTY HWY 25 @ HWY 49 MORNING
DL CHECKPOINT SUMNER COUNTY HWY 31 W @ RED RIVER EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT DICKSON COUNTY SR 49 @ CHEATHAM CO LINE EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT MONTGOMERY COUNTY HWY 79 N OF HAMPTON STATION RD EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT STEWART COUNTY BUMPUS MILLS RD @ HWY 120 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT SUMNER COUNTY HWY 31 W @ RED RIVER EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT WILSON COUNTY HWY 70 E OF GRANDVIEW RD EVENING
Friday, January 1
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT CHEATHAM COUNTY OLD CLARKSVILLE PIKE @ MORNING
BEARWALLOW RD
DL CHECKPOINT HUMPHREYS COUNTY HWY 70 IN MCEWEN EVENING
DIST. 4 MEMPHIS
Thursday, December 24
DL CHECKPOINT DYER COUNTY SR 78 @ BROADMOOR AFTERNOON
Thursday, December 31
DL CHECKPOINT DYER COUNTY SR 78 @ BROADMOOR EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT LAUDERDALE COUNTY SR 209 NORTH OF WILLIAM EVENING
SWITCH RD
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT DYER COUNTY SR 104 @ US 412 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT SHELBY COUNTY BRUNSWICK RD SOUTH OF EVENING
STEWART RD
DIST. 5 FALL BRANCH
Thursday, December 24
DL CHECKPOINT WASHINGTON COUNTY PLYMOUTH ROAD @ HOME TECH EVENING
Friday, December 25
DL CHECKPOINT GREENE COUNTY SR 340 @ GREENE/HAMBLEN CO EVENING
LINE
DL CHECKPOINT HAMBLEN COUNTY HWY 340 GREENE COUNTY LINE EVENING
Saturday, December 26
DL CHECKPOINT JEFFERSON COUNTY US 25W-70 @ KNOX CO LINE EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT HAMBLEN COUNTY HWY 160 NEAR HWY 343 AFTERNOON
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT CLAIBORNE COUNTY US HWY 25E @ AMERICAN EVENING
CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Sunday, December 27
DL CHECKPOINT HANCOCK COUNTY TN 31 MM 7 @ TN 33 PICNIC EVENING
TABLES
Wednesday, December 30
DL CHECKPOINT HAMBLEN COUNTY HWY 66 NEAR HWY 160 AFTERNOON
Thursday, December 31
DL CHECKPOINT CARTER COUNTY SLAM RD @ GREENE CO LINE EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT GREENE COUNTY SR 172 @ BURKMAN FEED MORNING
DL CHECKPOINT JOHNSON COUNTY US 421 @ NC/TN STATE LINE EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT HAMBLEN COUNTY HWY 343 NEAR US 25E AFTERNOON
DL CHECKPOINT HAWKINS COUNTY US 11W @ SR # 70N MORNING
DL CHECKPOINT WASHINGTON COUNTY OAK GROVE RD @ OAK GROVE AFTERNOON
CHURCH
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT HAWKINS COUNTY US 11W @ POOR VALLEY EVENING
DIST. 6 COOKEVILLE
Friday, December 18
DL CHECKPOINT PUTNAM COUNTY SOUTH JEFFERSON AVE @ EVENING
DRIVER LICENSE STATION
DL CHECKPOINT VAN BUREN COUNTY HWY 30 EAST EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT PUTNAM COUNTY US 70N @ CANEY FORK BAPTIST EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT WARREN COUNTY US 70S .3 MILE WEST OF MM 2 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT WARREN COUNTY SR 56 .1 M SOUTH OF MM 6 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT JACKSON COUNTY SR 290 @ PUTNAM CO LINE EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT JACKSON COUNTY SR 56 @ MM 1 EVENING
Saturday, December 26
DL CHECKPOINT OVERTON COUNTY OLD HWY 42 @ HWY 293 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT OVERTON COUNTY HWY 84 @ HWY 293 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT CUMBERLAND COUNTY HWY 70 WEST EVENING
Thursday, December 31
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT DEKALB COUNTY SR 56N .1 MILE NORTH OF EVENING
BUCKNER CHAPEL CHURCH
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT DEKALB COUNTY SR 53 NORTH .2 MILE NORTH OF EVENING
MM 4
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT MACON COUNTY HWY 10 @ ELLINGTON DR EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT MACON COUNTY HWY 141 @ PLEASANT VALLEY RD EVENING
Friday, January 1
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT SMITH COUNTY SR 264 .3 M SOUTH OF MM 5 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT SMITH COUNTY SR 53S .5 M NORTH OF MM 4 EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT CLAY COUNTY SR 52 @ NEW HOPE RD AFTERNOON
DL CHECKPOINT JACKSON COUNTY SR 56 @ MM 1 MORNING
Saturday, January 2
DL CHECKPOINT VAN BUREN COUNTY HWY 30 EAST EVENING
DIST. 7 LAWRENCEBURG
Wednesday December 23
DL CHECKPOINT PERRY COUNTY SR 13 SOUTH @ .4 MILES S MM 11 EVENING
Thursday December 24
DL CHECKPOINT LAWRENCE COUNTY HWY 64 W @ MM 12 AFTERNOON
DL CHECKPOINT MARSHALL COUNTY SR 50 WEST @ MAURY CO LINE EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT LEWIS COUNTY SR 48 S @ BAPTIST CHRUCH EVENING
Saturday, December 26
DL CHECKPOINT GILES COUNTY HIGHWAY 31 S @ MM 3 EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT BEDFORD COUNTY HIGHWAY 64 @ MM 19 EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT HICKMAN COUNTY SR 50 EAST @ NATCHEZ TRACE PKY AFTERNOON
DL CHECKPOINT MAURY COUNTY MOORESVILLE PIKE @ BLUE SPRINGS MORNING
CHURCH
DL CHEECKPOINT WAYNE COUNTY SR 114 NEAR MM 3 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT LEWIS COUNTY US 412 E @ MM 24 MORNING
Sunday, December 27
DL CHECKPOINT LINCOLON COUNTY HIGHWAY 64 E @ MM 25 EVENING
Thursday, December 31
DL CHECKPOINT LAWRENCE COUNTY HWY 98 @ WEAVER CIRCLE EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT GILES COUNTY HWY 31 SOUTH @ MM 3 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT LINCOLN COUNTY HWY 64 EAST @ MM 25 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT MARSHALL COUNTY HWY 64 @ BEDFORD COUNTY LINE EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT BEDFORD COUNTY HWY 231 @ SHELBYVILLE CITY EVENING
LIMITS
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT LEWIS COUNTY US 412 EAST @ MM 24 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT PERRY COUNTY US 412 WEST @ MM 0 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT WAYNE COUNTY SR 13 SOUTH @ MM 0 STATE LINE EVENING
Friday, January 1
DL CHECKPOINT MARSHALL COUNTY HWY 50 @ MAURY COUNTY LINE MORNING
DL CHECKPOINT HICKMAN COUNTY HWY 50 WEST @ .7 MILE E NICKEL MORNING
VALLEY RD
DL CHECKPOINT MAURY COUNTY SR 50 EAST @ .3 MILE EAST OF EVENING
MM 19
DIST. 8 JACKSON
Tuesday, December 22
DL CHECKPOINT HENDERSON COUNTY SR 114 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT HENDERSON COUNTY SR 22 EVENING
Wednesday, December 23
DL CHECKPOINT WEAKLEY COUNTY SR 124 EVENING
Saturday, December 26
DL CHECKPOINT MADISON COUNTY SR 18 AFTERNOON
Thursday, December 31
DL CHECKPOINT HENRY COUNTY US 79 EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT HENDERSON COUNTY SR 200 EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT HENDERSON COUNTY SR 412 EVENING
DL CHECKPOINT MCNAIRY COUNTY SR 57 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT MADISON COUNTY US 45 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT MADISON COUNTY US 412 EVENING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT GIBSON COUNTY SR 104 MORNING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT CARROLL COUNTY US 79 MORNING
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT MCNAIRY COUNTY US 64 EVENING