Posted in Drunk Driving,Negligence,Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law on December 30, 2014
“No Refusal” Enforcement Planned for Tennessee Highways and Interstates
The Tennessee Highway Patrol is planning a “no refusal” traffic safety enforcement campaign that will take place throughout the New Year’s holiday period.
According to a report by The Leaf-Chronicle and the Associated Press, the campaign will start at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, and run until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 4.
“No refusal” enforcement gives police officers and state troopers the authority to ask for and receive search warrants to obtain blood samples from drivers who appear to be intoxicated or driving under the influence of alcohol.
To enforce the law, law enforcement officials will increase their patrols and set up checkpoints designed to verify drivers wear their seat belts, hold valid licenses, and aren’t driving under the influence of alcohol. Police will also conduct checks of bars and taverns to keep intoxicated drivers off the road.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol says that 16 people died in traffic accidents on Tennessee roadways during the New Years’ period in 2013, and six of the deaths were directly related to alcohol consumption while seven were related to not wearing seat belts.
Safe Alternatives to Drinking and Driving
At Matt Hardin Law, our Nashville car accident lawyers applaud the efforts of law enforcement officials to keep drunk drivers off the road so they can’t injure innocent victims. If you find yourself in a situation this holiday season where you’ve had too much to drink and need to get home, never get behind the wheel of your vehicle. Instead, consider these safe alternatives:
A designated driver should be appointed every time you go to a party or gathering where alcohol will be served. By not drinking any alcohol throughout the course of the night, you and your friends or family will be safer and your driver won’t run the risk of getting pulled over and cited for driving under the influence.
If you don’t have a designated driver but still need to get home, consider calling a cab to pick you up. Almost all cities have cab services that run 24 hours a day, so it’s unlikely that you’ll be stranded and unable to get home if you’ve been drinking. Many cities also sponsor free or reduced-fare cab rides on holidays like New Year’s Eve to promote safety and reduce the number of drunk drivers on the roadways.
If your holiday gathering takes place at a friend or family member’s home, considering staying there overnight to give yourself time to sober up before you drive home the next day. Keep in mind that it takes one hour for the liver to process one beer, glass of wine, or 1 ounce serving of alcohol, so stay until you’re well rested and fully sober before heading home.
Although some of these tips may be inconvenient for some people, they are nothing compared to the heartache and expenses that can occur from drinking and driving. DUIs in the state of Tennessee can cost drivers up to $10,000, and accidents caused while under the influence can be considered felony offenses. Don’t take any unnecessary chances and don’t get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol.
With these tips in mind, it’s also important to know that you may encounter other intoxicated drivers during this holiday period—and if you are involved in an accident caused by a drunk driver, you may be eligible to get compensation. The Nashville car accident lawyers at Matt Hardin Law know Tennessee drunk driving laws, and we can pursue the maximum amount of damages for you and your family.
Just dial (615) 200-1111 or fill out a free online form today.
