State gets more DUI detectors

03.28.05

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By Bobbie Burks
Diversity Institute Fellow

The state transportation department awarded the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation $1.5 million yesterday to purchase breath-alcohol instruments in an effort to improve DUI arrests.

According to the TBI, the new instruments will also improve statewide record keeping of driving under the influence data.

The instruments are capable of retaining 700 tests at a time, as well as detailed information, including, age, sex, date and location of each DUI stop. Each county is eligible to receive at least one of the 217 purchased breath alcohol instruments. Of that number, 52 instruments have already been distributed, authorities said.

The transportation department's partnership is one of many geared to decrease the number of impaired drivers on Tennessee's highways.

In 2000, the governor declared December 15 as "Light on for Life" day, in memory of those who have lost their lives at the hands of impaired drivers. In that same year the "Drink& Drive, You Lose" campaign was enforced.

In 2001 there were 103 drunk driving fatalities; in 2002, 67, officials said.

According to a fatality-analysis report, 15 people were killed by impaired drivers in Davidson County in 2003. In 2004, 242 alcohol -related -fatalities occurred and 3,477 people were charged with DUI, authorities said.

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