Dayton, TN – Rhea County Sheriff’s Department is partnering with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) Booze It and Lose It campaign to increase impaired-driving enforcement from February 15th, 2019, to March 3rd, 2019.
The Sheriff’s Department will focus their efforts on alcohol and traffic enforcement targeting impaired drivers and traffic violations. In efforts to ensure the safety of the public, the sheriff’s office will continue enforcing a Zero Tolerance Policy on speeding, drunk and impaired driving, and seat belt violations.
“The hardest part of the job is making that house call and telling a family that their loved one is gone because someone chose to drink and drive,” said Rhea County Sheriff Mike Neal. “That’s why we will show zero tolerance for impaired drivers on the road. Please find a safe and sober ride home.”
Highly visible saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints will be conducted throughout the month. Increased state and national messaging about the dangers of drunk driving, coupled with increased sobriety checkpoints and high visibility enforcement, aim to drastically reduce the number of drunk-driving crashes, injuries, and fatalities this year.
“We ask all Tennesseans to drive safely at all times,” said THSO Director Vic Donoho. “Our state and local law enforcement partners will be out in full force to secure Tennessee roadways. We want everyone to make it home safely, so please designate a sober driver.”
The consequences of a single DUI conviction for a first-time offender in the state of Tennessee may include costly fines, court costs, legal fees, jail time, mandatory drug and alcohol treatment, and/or the installation of an ignition interlock device in his/her vehicle.
The THSO provides grant funding to support Rhea County Sheriff’s Department’s increased enforcement efforts during the Booze It and Lose It campaign. For more information about the THSO, please visit www.tntrafficsafety.org.
