Crackdowns against drunk driving have been happening all across the nation, and Tennessee is no exception. When it comes to the toleration of drinking and driving, many governments are stepping their game up with stricter laws, harsher punishments, and more campaigns to raise awareness.

However, one recent campaign has sparked outrage among some. The campaign, reportedly aimed at the young male demographic, made sexist remarks that many people took offense to. The campaign was called out, at which point the state apologized for the offense. The official statement reported that it had not been the intent of the campaign to insult women. Rather, they were simply trying to get the attention of the young men. Opponents of the campaign believe that the message is lost behind the sexist remarks.

Shortly after the apology was made, the Governor’s Highway Safety Office released data showing that young men were up to three times more likely to be arrested for DUI than women. They claim that this is the reason their campaign had been directed at young men. From 2010 to 2014, it was stated that roughly 20,118 men were arrested for DUI. Compared to that, 6,709 women were arrested for DUI in the same time period.

The campaign has since been canceled, and items from it are no longer in circulation. Additionally, any items that were placed in bars have since been removed. It is unknown whether or not another campaign will be launched to reach the same audience, but without the sexist undertones that got this campaign sunk.

Source: WBIR, “TN data shows men arrested for DUI at higher rate than women,” Becca Habegger, Mark Bergin, July 21, 2015

Many people are not aware of the implied consent law that applies to all drivers. This can be a problem for drivers who are asked to do a breath analysis test after being pulled over, because they may refuse and end up with more charges than they would have otherwise been dealing with.

The implied consent law, as stated by Washington legislature, is the law that allows police to legally ask for a person to take a breath test and lets them meter out additional punishment if that request is refused. This is because under the implied consent law, it is implied every time a driver gets behind the wheel of their car that they are consenting to the possibility of taking impairment tests if they are asked to do so. A failure to comply with the terms of the implied consent law means that the driver could face even more consequences, such as an immediately suspended license.

If a person refuses to take a breath test or impairment test when asked and they are already driving on a suspended license, they could be facing even more dire penalties. This is especially true if their license was suspended for an accident that ended in severe injury or death. These drivers could be sent to a jail or work house. They could have their license suspended or even revoked, and they may also face huge fines. Even those who are convicted of a DUI without a breath test will have to have an interlock device installed in their car.

On a whole, the consequences of not taking a breath or impairment test when asked outweigh the possibility of trying to avoid incrimination by refusing to take the test.

Accidents are a stressful situation for you, and they can be made even more stressful because it may seem like even your own insurance company is not on your side. Not to mention the fact that you may have to face a difficult battle to get the proper compensation out of the other driver’s insurance. So what can you do?

First, you can be prepared for that battle. Go into it knowing that you will likely have to fight to get full compensation. This is because insurance companies will automatically look for ways to downplay your injuries in order to limit the potential payout. This is common practice for insurance companies, because that is how they make money. By limiting the amount you will be able to claim, they will not lose too much.

You should also be prepared to prove yourself in the right if you are going up against another driver’s insurance. They will do their best to pin the fault of the accident on you or, barring that, to find some other detail that will not incriminate the driver under their coverage. This is why it is so important to have aggressive representation. Otherwise, it may be easy for insurance companies to cheat you out of your money.

If you would like to read more about what you can do to prepare yourself for facing insurance companies after your accident, please visit the link. It will take you to our web page, which has detailed information regarding what to expect from insurance providers in the wake of a crash as well as how to handle it. 

States are cracking down left and right on drunk drivers. This is due to the serious consequences of drunk driving accidents, such as the potential loss of life that can come with a fatal crash. Some states are going to incredible lengths to make sure that drunk drivers face severe penalties even for a first-time DUI.

Tennessee in particular is known for being very strict among the states for DUI related charges. One patrol officer stated that it is not surprising for legislature to act on a problem that causes so many fatalities. A study done by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration determined that 31% of fatal motor vehicle accidents are caused by inebriated drivers. Another study stated that DUI related accidents comprise roughly 30-40% of roadway fatalities. The high amount of life lost in these DUI accidents can be considered a reason why Tennessee is the 12th harshest state when it comes to enforcing DUI laws.

Tennessee is also one of the harshest states when it comes to cracking down on DUI drivers. For example, a first time drunk driver in Tennessee can still face a minimum jail sentence of two days. That is only the minimum; the sentence can potentially last longer. Additionally, even first time offenders can face huge fines of up to $2,500.

Cracking down on drunk drivers and doling out harsh punishments is par for the course in Tennessee. Because of the rigidity of their DUI laws, anyone who is facing a DUI related charge may benefit from contacting an attorney, even if they are only facing a first time charge.

Source: WCYB, “Virginia & Tennessee among toughest states on DUI,” Kristen Quon, June 17, 2015