The Foothills Law Enforcement Coalition against Impaired Driving has completed compiling their statistics for their unified efforts during the Labor Day campaign to combat Driving Under the Influence of alcohol or drugs.  In all, 65 persons were arrested and charged with DUI by the 13 Coalition agencies in Cocke, Sevier, and Blount Counties.

During the 18-day special operational period, area law enforcement agencies conducted a series of saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints throughout the Smoky Mountain region. This coordinated effort was part of the statewide Labor Day “Booze It and Lose It” campaign coordinated by the Governor’s Highway Safety Office, with funding support from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  In addition to the DUI arrests, more than 88 felony arrests were made, 25 fugitives captured, and nearly 2100 tickets issued by Coalition officers for offenses including reckless driving, seatbelt violations, and possession of a controlled substance

“More than five dozen impaired drivers taken off our streets demonstrates the effectiveness of a seamless law enforcement community working together on a common problem,” said Maryville Police Chief Tony Crisp.

“We are certainly pleased with these results,” said Tennessee Highway Patrol Major Dean Hurley.  “Lives may well have been saved through these actions.  But what we really want to see is our numbers go down because there are fewer impaired drivers out on the road.  I am troubled that we are seeing more and more prescription drug abuse cases resulting in tragic motor collisions.”

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