Posted in Car Accident,Drunk Driving,Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law on June 19, 2015
Tennessee Highway Patrol Schedules DUI Checkpoint Tonight in Putnam County
Troopers with the Tennessee Highway Patrol will set up a DUI checkpoint at the DeKalb County Line near Cookeville on Friday, June 19 from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
A report by the Herald-Citizen says that troopers at the checkpoint will evaluate drivers for signs of intoxication from drug use or alcohol consumption.
A spokesperson with the Tennessee Highway Patrol says that sobriety checkpoints are a “highly effective tool in the battle against impaired driving” and that impaired driving claims more than 16,000 lives across the country each year.
In addition to getting intoxicated and impaired drivers off the road, the checkpoint will also be used to identify and cite drivers who are violating other traffic laws, such as driving without a valid license, driving without a seat belt, driving with expired insurance, and driving with a suspended license.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol spokesperson reiterated that sobriety checkpoints are helpful for ensuring the protection and safety of all motorists on the road.
Matt Hardin Law’s team of Cookeville car accident lawyers appreciates the efforts of the Tennessee Highway Patrol to keep roadways in Cookeville, Putnam County, and the entire Volunteer State safe for all drivers.
How Do Police Determine when a Driver is Intoxicated?
Intoxicated drivers pose a major risk not only to themselves, but also to other motorists and their passengers. Police make it a high priority to get intoxicated drivers off the streets before they can cause accidents and injuries. Some of the tell-tale signs police watch for in order to identify drunk or impaired drivers include:
Drunk and intoxicated drivers often experience difficulties keeping their vehicle moving in a straight line. Their vehicle may drift back and forth in their lane or even cross over into adjacent lanes and even briefly into oncoming traffic. Failure to maintain a lane is one of the most common reasons for police to pull over drivers that they suspect may be intoxicated.
Common sense dictates that drivers will turn on their headlights right away when they get in their cars at night. However, intoxicated drivers may completely forget this step—especially if they’re driving in an urban area with plenty of artificial lighting surrounding the road. Drivers who travel long distances without their headlights on are often prime suspects for intoxicated driving and signal a red flag for police.
Sudden stopping at stop signs and red lights, quick acceleration and deceleration for no apparent reason, nearly striking or striking objects on the roadway, and running red lights and stop signs can all be considered signs of drunk driving. Intoxication causes drivers to make poor decisions and lowers their inhibition—both of which can lead to erratic and dangerous driving behaviors.
Some intoxicated drivers try to make themselves more inconspicuous by driving well below the speed limit. However, this decision often has the opposite effect, as police are more likely to view slow vehicles—especially late at night—suspiciously and suspect the driver of being intoxicated or impaired.
Alcohol and certain drugs affect vision and depth perception, making it more difficult for the user to determine how close or far away something is. In addition, they can also make it more difficult to maintain a steady speed, causing drivers to inadvertently speed up and tailgate the vehicle in front of them. Drivers who follow too closely may be pulled over on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.
Intoxicated drivers are one of the biggest threats that motorists face on a daily basis. That’s why it’s so important for law enforcement to conduct sobriety checkpoints and to pull over any drivers that they suspect are driving under the influence of alcohol.
At Matt Hardin Law, we know the devastating impact that drunk and intoxicated drivers can have on victims when they cause accidents. If you or someone you love was injured by a drunk driver, our Cookeville personal injury lawyers want to help you get the compensation you deserve. Get in touch with our legal team today—just dial (931) 754-1188 or fill out a free online form.
