Year: 2015
Texting behind the wheel: more dangerous than a DUI?
Campaigns to prevent drunk driving have been in operation for decades. In Tennessee, various groups, from the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) and Governor’s Highway Safety Office to the organization Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) all promote awareness of the dangers of drunk driving. And the THP will arrest you if they suspect you are driving
Tennessee County found to have invalid DUI arrest procedure
All law is full of technical requirements. For instance, contract law has elements of a contract that must be present in order for there to be a valid contract. There are similar elements necessary for an arrest or traffic stop to likewise be valid. One County in Tennessee has found that an error in their
Tennessee almost in the top ten for DUI enforcement
Lists are always popular on the internet. Some websites more or less traffic exclusively in lists, with a “Top 10” of this and “Five Best” of that urging you to click to view the list. Everyone wants to be in a top 10, but sometimes, when the lists are less trivial and strike a more
Will cars soon come with an ignition interlock as standard?
Stopping people from driving drunk is difficult goal to reach. Alcohol is a permitted substance for those over the legal drinking age in Tennessee, and while the law prohibits drivers from operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) greater than 0.08, thousands of drivers do it and thousands are arrested every year. Some
DUI checkpoints: they look good on the news
In Tennessee, drunk driving prevention is an important function of the state’s law enforcement agencies. So important that some employees of the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) have alleged there is an unwritten requirement that troopers make a certain number of DUI arrests every year. One public relations difficulty with DUI stops and arrests is that they typically
Memorial Day kicks off summer enforcement season
With the Memorial weekend close at hand, the state troopers from Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama announced their summer “Border to Border” campaign to encourage safe driving, and for those drivers who fail to meet that standard, they will be happy to provide a ticket. The announcement was made just south of Chattanooga, at Georgia Welcome
Trusting the black box
In many places, we encounter what is sometimes referred to as “black box” technology. This type of technology has become more and more commonplace, and with it, the need to trust without really understanding. Take an automobile. At one time, the basics of engine technology were so straightforward that any backyard mechanic could work on
Accuracy of Breathalyzers called into question
Law enforcement in most states, including Tennessee, rely on breath testing equipment to assist in determining whether a driver they have pulled over for a DUI. The machines appear to be the perfect device to quickly determine blood alcohol content (BAC) of a driver, providing scientific evidence to present in court and obtain a conviction.
Anyone can make a poor choice
Humans are fallible. We make mistakes. Sometimes, they are minor. We forget an anniversary or to stop at the grocery store on the way home to purchase an essential ingredient for dinner. Others are longer lasting and more problematic. Many criminal charges begin with a momentary bout of poor judgment. Sticking something in your pocket
DUI? Prove it
A Tennessee state representative was arrested last week and charged with a DUI and a violation of the state’s implied consent law. What might surprise some people is that he is challenging the arrest, claiming he is innocent of the charges. To some degree, the notion that because he was arrested, he must be guilty,