I’m sure you know the classic trope. You’re driving down a Southern country road, when suddenly, out of nowhere, you see flashing lights in your rearview. Local “county mountie” is behind you. You pull over to the side. Policeman lumbers out of the vehicle, asks for your license, your registration and your insurance. You hand everything over. And you’re going through the last five minutes of your trip. Did I speed? Did I miss a stop sign? Did I make an unsafe lane change? What did I do?
Eventually you find out that you passed a spot on the highway where the speed limit drops from 55 to 35 for about a tenth of a mile, then resumes to 55. You’ve just gone 20 miles over the speed limit, because you missed the speed limit sign that was covered in creeping ivy. And Johnny Badge just added another ticket to his quota.
Yep. You got nicked in a speed trap. A speed trap that, near the end of the month, becomes increasingly profitable for the local municipality as they target vehicles to assess fines to make up for their budget shortfalls.
I mean … it’s one thing to get caught in a speed trap. Technically you’ve violated the letter of the law, even though you had virtually no idea you’ve broken any law until you hear the siren.
That’s one thing.
How about getting arrested for a DUI … when you never touched any alcohol?
Welcome to Tennessee.
And if you think I’m joking about this … you might want to read this story from television station WSMV.
So according to that news report … the Tennessee Highway Patrol apparently wanted each of their highway officers to arrest at least 100 DUI drivers a year. Anything less would cost that officer the chance for premium overtime shifts. Which meant that officers were now incentivized to arrest anyone even suspected of DUI – even if they were stone cold tea-totalers.
Which is absolutely chilling.
Personally, I do not drink alcohol. Ever. Those who know me understand that because of the deaths of family members and friends due to drunk driving, I do not and will not imbibe any beer, wine or spirits.
But that might not stop me from getting arrested for DUI if I’m driving in Tennessee. Like the one guy in that first YouTube clip, I have diabetic neuropathy in my feet. If I were to perform a field sobriety test, who’s to say I might have difficulty walking a straight line? And would the troopers in Tennessee mistake my stumble for being straight-up plotzed?
Again … this is frightening. I understand that drivers who have their ability impaired by alcohol or drugs should never get behind the wheel.
But if you go to the WSMV link, you’ll hear the disturbing audio of the police sergeant encouraging troopers to arrest as many people as possible to meet those arrest quotas.
Well … if that’s the case …
Don’t ask me to participate in a road trip to Nashville or Memphis or anywhere else in Tennessee.
I can’t take the chance. It’s not safe for me.
Trust me. I know there are people out there who hate my guts and would certainly pray for my death.
I’m just not sure I want that to be in a Tennessee prison under false charges of driving while intoxicated, when the strongest beverage I consumed was a Diet Pepsi.
Chuck The Writer 