Highway patrol plans roadblocks

According to Highway Patrol Sgt. Billy Prater, troopers will be conducting both sobriety checkpoints and driver license checkpoints throughout this week at various times.

The Highway Patrol will be conducting these checkpoints during the week of March 24 on Highway 8 (toward Harrison Ferry), Highway 56 (which stretches from Irving College on the south to Dibrell on the north), Highway 108 (which leads to Viola) and Highway 127 (which runs from Sparta Highway to Viola Road), according to Sgt. Prater.

Prater pointed out the checkpoints are conducted at various times of the year to help promote safety.

‘The Tennessee Highway Patrol has found these driver license and sobriety checkpoints to be an effective means of enforcing driver license laws and the DUI laws of Tennessee while ensuring the protection of all motorists,’ said Prater, noting the checkpoints are conducted in an orderly fashion to inconvenience motorists as little as possible.

Prater noted troopers will be looking out for people who are behind the wheel under the influence, which is in Tennessee is a blood-alcohol content of .08.

‘Troopers will concentrate their efforts on vehicles being operated by drivers who are under the influence and who violate the driver license laws of Tennessee,’ said Prater, noting Tennessee requires mandatory jail time and loss of license for anyone convicted of drunk driving.