Authored By ashley.hopkins

Hamilton County will be part of the Tennessee Highway Patrol’s No Refusal Campaign enforcement area during the upcoming holiday weekend.

The Labor Day weekend enforcement campaign begins at midnight Friday, Aug. 29 and lasts until 11:59 p.m. Monday, Sept. 1.

“No Refusal” means law enforcement officials can get a search warrant for blood samples in cases involving suspected impaired drivers.

“Law enforcement officials have another tool to utilize to deter impaired driving and reduce fatal crashes on Tennessee roadways by conducting No Refusal enforcements,” THP Col. Tracy Trott said in a prepared statement. “We have chosen to implement this enforcement in each of the eight highway patrol districts and with the help of various local law enforcement agencies across the state. The ultimate goal is to remove drunk drivers from our roadways and to save lives,” he added.

Several counties across the state will be part of the No Refusal enforcement area, locally including Marion County in addition to Hamilton.

Saturation patrols, bar and tavern checks, and checkpoints will be held at various locations across the state.

“Our district captains have created enforcement plans specific to their regions,” Trott said. “So there will be a variety of specialized enforcement during Labor Day, including distracted driving, commercial vehicle safety and Move Over enforcement, for example. However, the priority is always on impaired driving and seat belt enforcement.”

During last year’s Labor Day holiday, 16 people died in 15 crashes in Tennessee, which was up from 13 in 2012. Alcohol was involved in 38 percent of the fatal incidents. Six of the 10 vehicle occupants killed were not wearing safety restraints (the other six fatalities were from ATVs, motorcyclists and pedestrians).

So far this year, 339 fewer people have died on Tennessee roadways in alcohol-impaired crashes than this time last year. Half of all people killed in crashes this year so far were not wearing seat belts.

Thirty-four percent more people have been arrested for DUI this year than during the same time period last year.