The Campus Police Department of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center is partnering with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) for its “Booze It and Lose It” campaign from August 16 to September 4, surrounding the Labor Day holiday. This initiative coincides with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” mobilization to increase impaired driving enforcement nationwide.
During the campaign, the UTHSC Campus Police Department will be enforcing traffic violations in the Medical District. The UTHSC Campus Police officers will be observing violators displaying behavior of being under the influence of an intoxicant while operating a motor vehicle. Some of the indicators include failure to wear a seatbelt, refraining from devoting full attention while operating a motor vehicle, speeding, and any reckless behaviors that would indicate impaired driving. UTHSC Campus Police officers will also share important safety information brochures to motorists regarding wearing seatbelts, pedestrian safety, and preventing drinking and driving.
“Booze it and lose it, so choose wisely, don’t drink and drive,” said UTHSC Campus Police Lieutenant Celia Tisby.
Increased state and national messaging about the dangers of drunk driving, coupled with increased sobriety checkpoints and high visibility enforcement, aim to drastically reduce the number of drunk-driving crashes, injuries, and fatalities this year.
The consequences of a single DUI conviction for a first-time offender in the state of Tennessee may include costly fines, court costs, legal fees, jail time, mandatory drug and alcohol treatment, and/or the installation of an ignition interlock device in his/her vehicle.
The THSO provides grant funding to support the UTHSC Campus Police Department’s increased enforcement efforts during the “Booze It and Lose It” campaign. For more information about the THSO, please visit www.tntrafficsafety.org.