McMinnville Police Department arrested two individuals for driving under the influence on Fourth of July weekend.
The department encouraged the use of designated drivers by anyone whose celebration could negatively affect their driving ability. Lt. Mark Mara says at least two individuals did not listen.
“Over the weekend, we did have two DUIs,” said Mara. “One of the arrests was involved in an accident. On that one, we had to call out the district attorney’s office and they had to help us with a blood search warrant on a blood draw because the person refused testing.”
The department held a saturation patrol over the weekend. Saturation patrols are used by the department as a way to make the streets safer by actively pursuing impaired drivers by patrolling the streets and conducting traffic stops. Officers made 18 traffic stops. Citations were written for not having a child properly restrained, violating the adult seatbelt law, and non-moving violations such as headlight law and no proof of registration.
Saturation patrols are designed to make highways safer and to increase public awareness of the hazards of drinking and driving, law enforcement officials say.
The department receives funding for “Be a Survivor: Get a Designated Driver” from the Tennessee Governor’s Highway Safety Office.
No date has been set for the next saturated patrol.