Department of Safety & Homeland Security Release Preliminary Memorial Day & No Refusal Results

NASHVILLE --- Preliminary reports released today by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security indicate that five people were killed in traffic crashes during the 78-hour Memorial Day holiday period this year, compared to 10 vehicular fatalities for the Memorial Day period in 2013.

Four of the people killed in crashes were vehicle occupants and one all-terrain vehicle (ATV) rider suffered fatal injuries.  One of the vehicular fatalities was alcohol-related.   

During the holiday period, the Tennessee Highway Patrol arrested 153 suspects on suspicion of DUI and issued 1,532 seat belt citations statewide. Additionally, nearly 1,500 speeding tickets were distributed, while 41 “Move Over” violations were also accounted for by state troopers.     

The highway patrol’s “No Refusal” enforcement coincided with this year’s Memorial Day period, which ran from 6 p.m., Friday, May 24 through 11:59 p.m., Monday, May 27.  In the eight participating “No Refusal” counties, there were zero traffic fatalities during the holiday period.

State troopers also removed 61 impaired drivers from the roadways and issued 438 seat belt citations in the “No Refusal” counties. 

The results for the eight-county “No Refusal” enforcement effort are listed below.  A statistical report from the Memorial Day holiday period also accompanies this release.

Sevier County

DUI arrests:                                            9

Refusal to take BAC test/

Search warrants obtained for blood samples:      1

McMinn County

DUI arrests:                                            1

Refusal to take BAC test/

Search warrants obtained for blood samples:      1

Rutherford County

DUI Arrests:                                            29                                            

Refusal to take BAC test/

Search warrants obtained for blood samples:      2

Shelby County

DUI Arrests:                                            2                                              

Refusal to take BAC test/

Search warrants obtained for blood samples:      0

Washington County

DUI Arrests:                                            7                                              

Refusal to take BAC test/

Search warrants obtained for blood samples:      0

Cumberland County

DUI Arrests:                                            10                                            

Refusal to take BAC test/

Search warrants obtained for blood samples:      1

Giles County

DUI Arrests:                                            3                                              

Refusal to take BAC test/

Search warrants obtained for blood samples:      0

Weakley County

DUI Arrests:                                            0                                              

Refusal to take BAC test/

Search warrants obtained for blood samples:      0

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s (www.TN.Gov/safety) mission is to ensure that our state is a safe, secure place in which to live, work and travel; enforce the law with integrity; and provide customer-focused services professionally and efficiently.