THP conducts New Year’s Eve ‘no refusal’ checkpoints
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HARDIN COUNTY, Tenn. — The Tennessee Highway Patrol will conduct a “No Refusal” traffic safety campaign running from New Year’s Eve to Sunday, Jan. 4. Drivers pulled over in Hardin County will not be able to refuse a test. Sgt. Bill Miller with the THP said the no-refusal law was passed two years ago. “This is historically a holiday where there’s several arrests made all across the state,” Miller said. The no-refusal law allows officials to seek search warrants for blood samples if they believe someone is driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. “This is another tool we use as law enforcement to keep Tennessee as safe as possible, and that’s our No. 1 goal,” Miller said. While all West Tennesseans WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News spoke with agree drunken driving should not be tolerated, not all agree with the no-refusal campaign. “It violates your rights in a way the government’s getting more and more they can do to us and not do to us,” Hardin County resident Bob Jones said. Mike Rogan said we need to step back and look at our constitutional rights. “If you have a suspect who you feel is intoxicated, I think there are plenty of other ways to test them and if need be incarcerate them, which they should be if they are drunk,” Rogan said. Others who did not want to speak on camera said it is unconstitutional and over the line, but many Hardin County residents agreed it is a smart idea. “Well, there’s too many people that are killed on the streets by drunk drivers — too many innocent people, too many children,” Hardin County resident Gene Scott said. “I think it’s a good idea to cut back on the accidents we’ve been having,” Hardin County resident John Ham said. “If you don’t have anything to hide, you shouldn’t have to worry about it,” Hardin County resident Kevin Cole said. “THP should be able to take you to jail.” Miller said Hardin County was chosen in Jackson’s district of the THP because it had 10 traffic fatalities in 2014. He said they want to end 2014 and kick off 2015 on a safe note. “Drivers, if you’re going to make a new year’s resolution, please make this resolution to be safe,” Miller said. “Don’t drink and drive.” The no-refusal enforcement will take place in eight counties across the state with one county participating from each THP district.
