KPD e-News Release: Kingsport Police Increasing Impaired-Driving Enforcement During Holiday Season

	Kingsport Police Department David Quillin, Chief of Police 200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660 http://Police.KingsportTN.gov • www.KingsportPDBlog.com
NEWS RELEASE
SUBJECT:		Kingsport Police Increasing Impaired-Driving Enforcement During Holiday Season
DATE:		December 19, 2019

GENERAL NARRATIVE
The Kingsport Police Department has partnering with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) to increase impaired-driving enforcement from December 13, 2019, to January 1, 2020, surrounding the holiday season. The THSO’s statewide Booze It and Lose It campaign is part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over nationwide mobilization. Increased state and national messaging about the dangers of drunk driving, coupled with increased sobriety checkpoints and high visibility enforcement, aim to drastically reduce the number of drunk-driving crashes, injuries, and fatalities this year. “We ask all Tennesseans to please drive safely this holiday season,” said THSO Director Buddy Lewis. “Our state and local law enforcement partners will be out in full force to secure Tennessee roadways. We want everyone to make it home safely, so please designate a sober driver.” The consequences of a single DUI conviction for a first-time offender in the state of Tennessee may include costly fines, court costs, legal fees, jail time, mandatory drug and alcohol treatment, and/or the installation of an ignition interlock device in his/her vehicle. The THSO provides grant funding to support the Kingsport Police Department’s increased enforcement efforts during the Booze It and Lose It holiday campaign. For more information about the THSO, please visit www.TNTrafficSafety.org. To view a brief THSO Booze It and Lose It video, please visit the following link: https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=aW5ObZPzzQo&feature=youtu.be