TN driving fatalities and DUIs (felony, statistics, vehicle)

[Cougargm]

Today's USA today listed the number of auto fatalities and the % of those involving DUIs for all 50 states for 2006. Surprisingly TN was in the top ten with 1286, ahead of several more largely populated states like Illinois, Michigan, NJ, etc. THirty two (32%) percent were the result of DUIs. Are TN's dui laws lenient compared to other states? Are there any identifiable reasons why TN has more auto fatalities in general and more DUI related one in particular than more populated and congested states? It's a bit surprising, especially considering the number of dry counties in TN.

[knoxgarden]

Don't have statistics to back it up, but I'd place the blame on the number of Interstates that run through Tennessee. Makes it possible to crash at high speeds which is more likely to cause fatalities.
Same applies to the rural country roads. More chance for high speed crashes. Those are the ones you usually hear about on the news.
You probably have more accidents caused by DUIs in heavily populated states, but because there is more traffic and lower speeds, they result in fewer fatalities.
Tennessee doesn't seem to be able to keep drunks off the roads. I do background checks and I am constantly amazed at the fact by how habitual offenders keep re-offending. They'll have 10, 20, 30 arrests for DUI, operating a vehicle without a license, operating when banned, get felony convictions, be banned from operating a vehicle for life, nothing stops them.The jails are crowded so they don't do jail time.
I have noticed that once someone has been assigned to pick up litter for 24 hours for a DUI, they don't have any further arrests. So that may be working.

[jguillot]

Originally Posted by knoxgarden

I have noticed that once someone has been assigned to pick up litter for 24 hours for a DUI, they don't have any further arrests. So that may be working.

In my mind, I would prefer picking up litter for 24 hours than spending time in jail, so that is surprising to me. I'm not a drinker or drug user, but the possibility of having to go to jail if arrested for DUI would be enough to keep me from taking that chance. Hopefully some of the Judges who do the sentencing will visit this forum and see your comment.

[knoxgarden]

Originally Posted by jguillot

In my mind, I would prefer picking up litter for 24 hours than spending time in jail, so that is surprising to me. I'm not a drinker or drug user, but the possibility of having to go to jail if arrested for DUI would be enough to keep me from taking that chance. Hopefully some of the Judges who do the sentencing will visit this forum and see your comment.

Drunks don't do any jail time due to severe overcrowding in Tennessee jails. They get released on probation. If they're picked up again for drunk driving or driving on a suspended license, they still don't go to jail. No room.
I've seen records that run six pages long for one individual with drunk driving arrests and driving suspended arrests where, if they made bond, they never spent a night in jail.
The only exceptions I've seen are where someone was injured in an accident. Then, they might see the inside of a jail.
Do a crime, do jail time is a myth. I've really had my eyes opened about who is out wandering the streets.

[Ridgerunner]

Originally Posted by Cougargm

Today's USA today listed the number of auto fatalities and the % of those involving DUIs for all 50 states for 2006. Surprisingly TN was in the top ten with 1286, ahead of several more largely populated states like Illinois, Michigan, NJ, etc. THirty two (32%) percent were the result of DUIs. Are TN's dui laws lenient compared to other states? Are there any identifiable reasons why TN has more auto fatalities in general and more DUI related one in particular than more populated and congested states? It's a bit surprising, especially considering the number of dry counties in TN.

Tennessee has a tremendous volume of out-of-state traffic because it borders on 8 other states, more than all but Missouri. Only Pennsylvania and maybe one or two other states have more interstate highways entering the state. And due to the large number of dry counties in Tennessee, many residents drive to neighboring states to consume adult beverages. I think this is at least a partial explanation.