Cookeville PD “Booze It And Lose It” Campaign Starts Friday

Cookeville Police Department will participate in the state’s, “Booze It and Lose It” campaign starting Friday.

Increased patrols and checkpoints focused on impaired drivers will run in targeted areas until September 7th. Cookeville Police Captain Bobby Anderson said the message of the campaign is simple. Do not drink and drive.

“We partner with the Tennessee Highway Patrol in an effort to reduce traffic crashes and fatalities related to driving under the influence and alcohol related offenses,” Anderson said. “Obviously, the target of this is to create safe road way conditions.”

Anderson said consequences for a first time DUI offender include costly fees, jail time and mandatory treatment. The overtime worked by officers will be paid through a grant from the Tennessee Highway Safety Office.

“For a first time DUI offender, you are looking at costly fines, court costs, legal fees, jail time, mandatory drug or alcohol treatment and even the installation an ignition interlock device in your vehicle if you were to be convicted. That is just for a first time offender.”

Anderson said the department will focus on areas where enforcement has been an issue in the past. The focus of the campaign is around Labor Day weekend.

“Don’t drink and drive,” Anderson said. “If you are going to be out in an area where you think you will be drinking alcohol, get a designated drive, call a taxi cab or get a friend to pick you up. But most definitely do not get behind the wheel if you have been drinking.”

Booze It & Lose It is Tennessee’s statewide campaign that coincides with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s national campaign, “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.” In Tennessee, a drunk driver’s level of intoxication is typically determined by the measurement of blood alcohol content (BAC). A BAC measurement of 0.08% defines the criminal offense.