News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Impaired drivers have kept Putnam County authorities busy the past week.
Officers have arrested approximately eight people since last Thursday evening for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Tennessee Highway Safety Office Liaison Fred Sherrill said warmer weather may be to blame.
“We’ve had a few pretty good, nice-weather days come out. People pretty much have cabin fever and it’s finally getting warm enough for people to get out,” Sherrill said. “I guess they’re probably [wanting to take] an early start to the summer and consuming when they shouldn’t be and not designating a driver to drive.”
Sherrill said the recent increase in Putnam County DUI arrests isn’t common but noted that numbers have increased across the state.
“As those numbers go up, [so will] our checkpoints, saturation, special events and that kind of stuff,” Sherrill said. “We’re also going to increase enforcement and education, and just try and make the public aware of what’s going on. We don’t need no more – we don’t need any, period – fatal [accidents] from an impaired driver after they make a bad decision to drink and drive.”
At least three of this weekend’s DUI arrests stemmed from accidents.
Among those arrested, two were arrested on their second DUI charge, while 26-year-old Sparta resident Matthew Bush faces his fourth DUI charge since 2014 following his arrest on West Broad Street Friday.
All individuals arrested for DUI since Thursday have since been released on bond. DeKalb County and Crossville Police officers have also made multiple DUI and public intoxication arrests since April 10.
