STATE SEES DRAMATIC RISE IN ‘SOBER DUI’ ARRESTS: 419 DRIVERS CHARGED IN 2024
In 2024, Tennessee law enforcement agencies arrested 419 drivers for DUI despite toxicology tests detecting no alcohol or other intoxicants in their systems, according to data released by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). This represents a dramatic increase from the 45 such arrests recorded in 2023.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) accounted for the largest share, with 190 of these arrests across its various districts, led by Knoxville (District 1) with 41, Jackson (District 8) with 40, and Nashville (District 3) with 37. Other notable agencies included the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office (16), La Vergne Police Department (11), and several departments with seven each, such as Clarksville, Madison County, Mt. Juliet, and Murfreesboro.
The TBI noted that its tests do not screen for every possible substance and that breath tests for alcohol are not administered by the bureau. This annual reporting requirement stems from a new law prompted by investigative reporting into “sober DUI” arrests, which previously were not publicly detailed due to privacy restrictions.
