Congratulations Hamilton County Sheriff's Office

HCSO Credits TN Grant With Higher DUI Arrest Rate

The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office says a RIDD Grant from the Tennessee Governor's Highway Safety Office is responsible for increasing the rate of DUI-related arrests over the past year.


In a release, authorities say the RIID Grant, (Remove Impaired-Intoxicated Drivers), gives the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) the opportunity to use more federal funds to support traffic enforcement operations for the sole purpose of removing impaired and/or intoxicated drivers from roads.


During the period of October 2014 through September 2015, the HCSO goal was a minimum of a 7% increase from last year's arrests made for impaired or intoxicated drivers.


The HCSO says it accomplished this goal. Deputies experienced an increase in DUI arrests during this grant period. A total of thirty arrests were made during this 2014-2015 grant period verses a total of twenty-three DUI arrests made during the 2013-2014 grant period.


During the 2014-2015 grant period Hamilton County Sheriff's Office investigated a total of three deadly crashes in the unincorporated areas, with one of them being alcohol related.


The HCSO says deputies are removing more impaired and intoxicated drivers from the roads and it is clear lives are being saved.


The HCSO says the RIID Grant has allowed deputies and traffic personnel to also see improvements due to the higher visibility of more law enforcement personnel and increased enforcement measures.


The HCSO says the RIID Grant has allowed the HCSO to have additional manpower on the streets and the citizens in Hamilton County have been able to see an increased presence of law enforcement personnel.


HCSO says HCSO School Resource Officers have also contributed to the success of the RIID Grant. For example, during this year's RIDD Grant period, 243 presentations were made by SROs on topics such as drunk driving, driving impaired, drugs, and the negative effects of drugs and alcohol. 6,989 students participated in these presentations.


In April, a simulated crash was conducted at Sale Creek Middle / High School in cooperation of the Hamilton County Health Department to further illustrate to students the dangers of driving while impaired or intoxicated.


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