'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