News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Smithville Police Department will participate in the Booze It or Lose It campaign during the next several days in hopes of reducing holiday accidents.
Smithville Police Officer Lane Ball said the department will implement a new strategy called Saturation Patrol, increasing the number of man-hours on duty. Ball said the more traffic stops conducted, the better the chances of identifying individuals under the influence.
“If you’re hosting an event and you see someone who’s about to go drive impaired whether it be drugs or alcohol, even prescription drugs, go get their keys,” Ball said. “And help them get home safely…it’ll be the greatest gift you can give them, is their safety.”
Ball said the overtime hours are insignificant compared to the importance of public safety. He also said that about half of the fatalities in the Cookeville district are caused by DUI drivers. Ball said often, it is not the impaired driver who ends up needing medical attention.
“It can affect anybody, kids, a lot of kids can lose their lives in that way (DUI Victims),” Ball said. “So it is a very eye opening ideal for a lot of people.”
Ball said that if you choose to drink and drive, you could lose your life, cost someone else life, and in Tennessee, lose your license permanently.
“I believe in 2022, was one of the biggest, biggest years of drunk driving-related deaths during the Christmas and holiday season,” Ball said. “There was 281 drunk driving-related deaths in 2022 around that time.”
