Family shocked by vehicular homicide sentence | Johnson City Press

A nine year sentence suspended after 90 days in jail has outraged many. After reading the story, read the comments below it. It seems the people commenting did not buy the "accidental consumption of meth" testified to by the defense. Read the full story at:

Family shocked by vehicular homicide sentence | Johnson City Press

Here is an excerpt:
A blood test on Billings after the crash showed he had a .06 blood alcohol level as well as a mixture of amphetamine, methamphetamine and two other medications. Investigators found numerous beer bottles in Billings’ truck as well as a full six-pack still “cold to the touch,” according to testimony.

DRE program helps to combat drug-impaired drivers

This is an excellent story describing the efforts of the 96 Tennessee officers trained as Drug Recognition Experts. It ran on Channel 6 WATE in Knoxville. This may be the first of it's kind for our State. Congratulations to all our DRE"s for their extremely hard work combatting drugged driving. See the story at:

DRE program helps to combat drug-impaired drivers

Here are some excerpts:

20 year sentence in Williamson County

Congratulations to DUI Prosecutor, Carlin Hess, and the law enforcement team in Williamson County for the 20 year sentence for Aggravated Vehicular Homicide for Gregory Powers.

When Powers was arrested the following story was on Channel 2 news on November 21, 2012.

 

FRANKLIN, Tenn. -

A Franklin man arrested over the summer for hitting a bar employee with his car has been charged with vehicular homicide following a fatal crash last week that claimed the life of a Virginia man.

The crash happened just before 5 p.m. last Wednesday on Franklin Road near South Berry's Chapel Road.

Thomas Schlapman was pronounced dead at Williamson Medical Center after Franklin police said Gregory Powers crossed the center line and struck the motorcycle Schlapman was driving, head-on.

Powers, charged with vehicular homicide and failure to maintain a lane, remains in the Williamson County jail on a $250,000 bond.

Investigators believe that Powers, 46, was impaired at the time of the crash and are awaiting the return of blood alcohol test results.

Charges may be added or amended, police said.

At the time of the crash, Powers was out on bond for a DUI and vehicular assault charge case filed in July.

According to police, Powers was told to leave The Pond because he was too impaired. As he left the parking lot, he struck an employee who tried to stop him with his car.

Train hits dumptruck on tracks

On many of my office days I ride the Music City Star commuter train. It is an excellent option to stay off the roadways, save gas, save parking fees and even save the enviroment. Today I drove my wife's Prius to work. Today was the day something happened involving the Star. Apparently a dump truck was on the tracks. The dump truck is now missing it's front end. None of the 200 commuters were injured. The truck driver was transported due to injuries.

Read more at: http://www.newschannel5.com/story/22908555/music-city-star-dump-truck-collide-in-hermitage

 

Bob says: Drinking on the job — Don’t do it!

Bob Johnson puts out a blog concerning bar management. This week he has a column about the problem of bar managers, servers and others drinking on the job. It is pretty commonplace with horrific repurcusions. He tells the story of Charlie, a bar manager, who is now facing homicide charges for drunkenly blasting into a car with three persons on their way to Mass.
Take a look at the issue from the perspective of Bob. Go to his website and look at the article listed on the right of the page.

www.bobthebarguy.com

Alcohol and Drugs and a head on crash

In a story that seems to repeat itself too often, a Claiborne County man was killed and his passenger injured when a 29 year old driver, who is alleged to have been drinking and drugging crossed the centerline as he came through a curve and slammed head on into 54 year old Mark Nelson of Speedwell.
The impaired driver lived and charges are pending.
Read about it at:
Charges pending in Claiborne County fatal crash » Knoxville News Sentinel

Latest Sobriety checkpoint video from Rutherford County

In Rutherford County there is a concerted effort to videotape sobriety checkpoints with the intent to destroy the use of sobriety checkpoints as a public safety tool. The latest video from a driver, who apparently holds a CDL is at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkxS9IPyA2M

4th of July holiday enforcement

Tennessee was a little safer this year than last, due to enforcement efforts to detect impaired drivers.
Statistical data concerning the holiday enforcement period is available at:
https://news.tn.gov/node/11025

There were 16 fatalities in 14 crashes this year. There were 21 fatalities last year.
Some counties participated in No Refusal programs. Twelve suspects refused testing. Seven search warrants were obtained in those incidents. In 5 instances search warrants were not available.

Beware on the roadways this holiday!

A Breath Testing watch!

A company in Tokyo has produced a watch with a built in alcohol breath test. I don't know how you would keep it properly calibrated to comply with State v Sensing, but it demonstrates how the technology is fitting into smaller and smaller items.

Watch the video when you go to the site at:

Breathalyzer Watch Design with Time, Date, Alarm & Sobriety Game. Intoxicated

Lawyer, DUI Driver Tricks Exposed

An Oregon DUI defense attorney was finally convicted after his 6th DUI arrest. He'll be serving 15 days and be monitored for a while. The sentencing hearing revealed some of his tricks and his delight, when an officer could not testify after being severely wounded in a shooting. He says he is going to change now. Let's hope so. His actions do not reflect the attitude of a great majority of lawyers, who serve in the judicial system. If anyone admires this guy, they need to reflect on the meaning and purpose of serving in the judicial system!
Read about it at:
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20130628/UPDATE/130628037/Salem-DUII-lawyer-convicted-drunken-driving