Tennessee is known for having some of the most stringent drunk driving laws in the United States today. Legislators passed a law in 2013 that requires all DUI offenders to have ignition interlock systems installed on their vehicles. Furthermore, the Tennessee Highway Patrol and local law enforcement agencies routinely conduct no refusal campaigns. This is when a judge or magistrate is on hand 24 hours a day to sign warrants for blood and breath samples from suspected DUI offenders.
Despite these laws, Tennessee drunk driving accidents continue to happen. Last year alone, drunk driving fatalities accounted for almost 30 percent of all traffic-related deaths. This is why some state lawmakers are looking to make drunk driving regulations even tougher.
For the last 20 years, officers, troopers, and deputies have signed a sworn affidavit stating the reason for any arrest. Now though, judges say this process doesn’t adhere to the law and could result in a failed conviction of a DUI offender. According to an article from the Insurance Journal, judges in Sullivan County are calling for magistrates to be on call at all hours of the day or night to give approval for late-night DUI arrests.
Our Nashville car accident lawyers at Ponce Law recognize the importance of holding drunk drivers accountable for their actions. That’s why we are hopeful the changes that have been requested by the judges are adopted sooner, rather than later.