Illinois law versus Tennessee law

A guy facing a DUI 7th in Mundelien, Il, is facing a sentence of 6-30 years. The same guy in Tennessee would face 1-2 years.
Read about the Illinois guy at:
Palatine man faces 30 years after seventh DUI arrest - chicagotribune.com

Advise from TRUCKERS for this weekend!!

Over 28.2 million motorists are expected to travel on the highways this Labor Day weekend, a 3.1 percent increase over last year according to AAA Travel. As motorists prepare for their last summer getaway, a team of professional truck drivers are helping to ensure our roads are safe.


America’s Road Team Captains, elite professional truck drivers with millions of accident-free miles, are offering advice on how to navigate through highway traffic and arrive at your destination safely. Tips include:

Perform a pre-trip inspection– Check your tire pressure, wipers and fluids. Simple maintenance can prevent many of the problems that strand motorists on the side of the road before you leave your home.

• Plan your trip – Know where you are going and be prepared to exit. Indecisive driving is a major cause of traffic problems.

• Check the weather forecast and conditions – Weather conditions can change very quickly. Be sure to check the forecast often. Do not attempt to drive through standing water. Watch for road closures and detours.

• Large Trucks Have Blind spots – If you can't see the truck driver in his or her mirrors, then the truck driver can’t see you.

• Do not cut in front of large trucks – Remember that trucks are heavier and take longer to make a complete stop, so avoid cutting quickly in front of them. A fully loaded tractor trailer takes a football and both end zones to come to a complete stop when driving at highway speeds.

• Pay Attention– Distracted driving is a leading cause of crashes. Looking away for even two seconds doubles the chances of an accident. Turn cell phones and PDAs off.

• Allow a Safety Cushion – Look 1/4 mile ahead for a safe path. Leave yourself an out.

• Slow Down –Chances of a crash nearly triples when driving faster than surrounding traffic.

• Keep extra water in your vehicle –Just as you keep a winter driving kit in your vehicle, it is important to be prepared when driving during the summer months. Keep plenty of extra water, sunscreen and non-perishable snacks in your car in case you are stranded.

• Buckle Up –Safety belts are not a fashion statement – they save lives.

• Abide by Traffic Rules– Follow traffic signs and signals – paying special attention to work zones is important during this high construction season.

• Be Careful Backing Up– One in four preventable collisions involve backing up. Be sure to look before backing up; walk around your car prior to departure.

“Labor Day weekend is the last of the summer vacation travel,” said America’s Road Team Captain Alphonso Lewis (YRC Freight) of Montgomery, Ala. There are additional motorists on the highway, with many in unfamiliar areas. For the sake of safety, drivers need to slow down, follow the rules of the road and be patient.”

The America’s Road Team would like to remind the motoring public that from driveway to highway, safety requires patience and dedication.

Beware Driving in Memphis

Memphis drivers have been named the most dangerous in Tennessee. Knoxville was listed as one of the safest cities.
The analysis was done based on likelihood to be in a crash. Read about it at:


Memphis Drivers Named the Most Dangerous in TN | WREG.com — Memphis News & Weather from WREG Television, News Channel 3

Kendell Poole and Ollie the Otter

At the meeting of the Governor's Highway Safety Association (GHSA) Tennessee has received some significant notice.
First our own Director of the Governor's Highway Safety Office, Kendell Poole, was elected President of the National Association.
Next, the folks in Cookeville, who created and use Ollie the Otter to educate children about using booster seats and seat belts, received national recognition for their outstanding program.
Contrary to popular belief Ollie and Kendell are not the same person! They are both dedicated public servants.

'No refusal' DWI policy may soon be standard in El Paso

'No refusal' DWI policy may soon be standard in El Paso - El Paso Times

Interesting article about Texas no refusal policy in my hometown.

No Refusal Labor Day

16 different jurisdictions will be participating in No Refusal efforts over Labor Day. See a typical news notice about the effort from the Kingsport Times News:

"No Refusal" DUI enforcement to launch Labor Day weekend | TriCities.com

New DUI, Agg Assault Affirmed...5 year sentence

Congratulations to ADA David Shinn,  THP Sergeant Larry Fraley, Deputy Heath Gunter and everyone involved in the case against Mel Lindsay.  Lindsay was driving a gold Lexus like a crazy person to avoid another DUI. He scooted through a school zone going more than 90 miles per hour. He  ran into one officer and slammed into a patrol car to try to avoid being caught. The case was affirmed. The DUI was his 4th. Read about it at:
http://www.tncourts.gov/sites/default/files/atwellmelopn.pdf

Clarksville Vehicular Homicide gets probation

In Clarksville a woman was charged with DUI and vehicular homicide by intoxication. She was allowed to plead guilty to reckless homicide and was sentenced to receive 4 years of probation. She also pled to DUI and was given the minimum sentence.
The defense intended to blame the deceased passenger for grabbing the steering wheel causing the crash. Since the passenger could not speak for himself, the State agreed to a plea.
Read about it at:
Clarksville woman sentenced to probation, jail for DUI, reckless homicide | The Leaf Chronicle -- Clarksville, Tenn., and Fort Campbell | theleafchronicle.com

Ricky Otts law lands driver in jail

Representative Joe Carr worked hard in the General Assembly to fight for the passage of the Ricky Otts law. The law requires an arrest if a driver is involved in a fatal crash and does not have valid license or insurance.
In the case in which Ricky Otts was killed a driver left the country and has not been heard from since a crash for which he was not arrested. There is now an arrest warrant in that case. Now Smuel Perez-Nuno has been arrested after a similiar situation in Chattanooga. Read about it at:

Perez-Nuno Jailed After Fatal Motorcyle Wreck - 08/06/2012 - Chattanoogan.com

Powerful opinion from Tennessean

Joining in the frustration from the ridiculous death toll on our highways and the CDC news that Nashville is number 3 of all cities in America for losing young people on our roads (memphis is number 4), The Tennessean has lashed out and wants to see substantial changes!
First, they want to increase fines that are limited to $50 in traffic courts.
Second, they want Driver's Education funded and required in our schools.
Third, they want law enforcement to write more tickets for texting and seat belt violation.
Fourth, they want parents and adults to be better examples and stop some of the ludicrous behaviors that lead to traffic crashes.
Read about it at:

When it comes to safety, TN fails road test | The Tennessean | tennessean.com

Judge Page

Judge Roger Page has been named to the Court of Criminal appeals to replace the late Judge J.C. McLin. Judge Page is a former assistant district attorney, who has served as a circuit court judge in the 26th Judicial District since 1998.
We wish him the best!

Read about the Judge at:
Haslam Appoints Page to Court of Criminal Appeals Western Section | Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts