The Fentress County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) to increase impaired-driving enforcement from December 18, 2020, to January 1, 2021, surrounding the holiday season. The THSO’s statewide Booze It and Lose It campaign is part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over nationwide mobilization.

The Fentress County Sheriff’s Office will be using Tennessee Highway Safety Office Grant Funds to implement alcohol impaired driving enforcement patrols in high traffic areas to look out for those who choose to drink and drive during this campaign period.

“2020 has been a different kind of year and nothing would be a more tragic end to the year than to lose a friend or a loved one to a poor decision of someone to get behind the wheel while impaired,” stated Jason Duncan, Project Director for the Fentress County Sheriff’s Office highway safety program.

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 please drive safely this holiday season,” said THSO Director Buddy Lewis. “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 Fentress County Sheriff’s Office’s increased enforcement efforts during the Booze It and Lose It holiday campaign. For more information about the THSO, please visit www.tntrafficsafety.org.

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