CITY OF JOHNSON CITY
JOHNSON CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT
NEWS RELEASE
Prepared By: | MPOII Allan Rutledge | Date: | 07/02/15 | Time: | 1:00pm |
Subject: | DUI Enforcement Patrols | Approved By: | Chief Mark Sirois |
The Johnson City Police Department will be placing additional officers on the streets this Fourth of July holiday weekend on the lookout for impaired drivers. These high visibility patrols will be conducted in partnership with the Tennessee Governor’s Highway Safety Office’s “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign. The Governor’s Highway Safety Office is providing grant overtime funding for Johnson City officers to conduct these DUI enforcement patrols aimed at removing impaired drivers from the road during this busy holiday weekend.
“The Independence Day holiday is a time for celebrating our nation’s heritage,” said Chief Sirois. “Celebrating responsibly, and making the decision not to drive impaired and put oneself and others at risk, is simply the right thing to do.”
The Johnson City Police Department also reminds everyone that buzzed driving is drunk driving. Getting behind the wheel after even just one too many drinks can lead to disaster. According to the Tennessee Governor’s Highway Safety Office, 12 people were killed statewide during last year’s Fourth of July holiday weekend, which is a 37% decrease from the 19 vehicular fatalities recorded in 2013. Of those 12 traffic fatalities, seven were vehicle occupants. Four (57%) of the seven vehicle occupants killed were not wearing their seat belts while three others were alcohol-related (43%). The remaining five traffic fatalities were motorcyclists. As of July 2, the Tennessee Department of Safety reports that 421 people have died on Tennessee roadways in 2015, compared to 466 fatalities to date in 2014.
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