Roadblock scheduled Friday: County identified as trouble spot for drunk driving
Warren County has been identified as one of the trouble spots for drunk driving and as such has been put on the state’s short list for stepped up enforcement by the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
The THP’s Impaired Driving Enforcement campaign is targeting 28 counties across the state found to have the highest average of alcohol-related injury and fatal traffic crashes. The counties targeted include Warren, Anderson, Bedford, Blount, Bradley, Coffee, Cumberland, Davidson, Dyer, Hamblen, Hamilton, Haywood, Henry, Knox, Lawrence, Madison, Maury, McMinn, Montgomery, Putnam, Rutherford, Sevier, Shelby, Sullivan, Sumner, Tipton, Washington and Weakley.
“By determining where the problems are the greatest, we’re able to put in place effective enforcement efforts to combat the deadly results of impaired driving,” said Tennessee Department of Safety Commissioner Fred Phillips.
As part of the campaign, troopers will concentrate on DUI and other alcohol-related offenses as well as other violations that affect the safety of motorists. Various enforcement measures used in the campaign include sobriety checkpoints, enforcement roadblocks and saturation patrols.
As a local part of the initiative, the Tennessee Highway Patrol will conduct a driver’s license roadside safety checkpoint this Friday on Yager Road. The roadblock will have officers checking for valid driver’s licenses as well as ensuring motorists are not under the influence.
“More than 3,000 hours of overtime will be dedicated to combating impaired driving in these high-risk counties,” said THP Colonel Lynn Pitts. “Statistics tell us most of these crashes take place between 9 p.m. Friday and 3 a.m. Sunday, so troopers will be especially vigilant during this time period.”
Since the campaign’s start in October, troopers have issued 2,769 citations for DUI, speeding, safety belt and various other violations. The Impaired Driving Enforcement campaign will continue through September 2004.