JCPD NEWS RELEASE
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Prepared By: |
Heather Brack |
Date: |
12/30/20 |
Time: |
3:00 pm |
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Subject: |
NYE DUI Enforcement |
Approved By: |
Major Brian Rice |
The Johnson City Police Department (JCPD) is encouraging everyone to be safe and smart with their New Year’s Eve holiday plans. JCPD will have additional officers on road this holiday looking for impaired drivers. These high visibility “saturation patrols” will be conducted all weekend in partnership with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) Booze It and Lose It impaired-driving campaign. THSO is providing grant overtime funding for JCPD to conduct these DUI saturation patrols aimed at removing impaired drivers from Johnson City streets.
Even though COVID-19 restrictions and social distancing guidelines remain in place, JCPD offers a reminder for individuals going out to designate a sober driver or utilize ride-sharing services if drinking.
As 2020 comes to a close JCPD has made 227 DUI arrests so far this year and investigated 59 alcohol-related crashes, 42 of which resulted in personal injuries.
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 holiday season.
Johnson City Police Department reminds everyone that the consequences of a single DUI conviction can include expensive fines, court costs, legal fees, jail time, mandatory drug and alcohol treatment, and/or the installation of an ignition interlock device in your vehicle.
Grant funding is provided by the Tennessee Highway Safety Office.