Work Off Drunk Driving Conviction

New Tennessee Law Attracts Criticism

Knoxville, TN-A new state law permits DUI offenders to work off their first infraction by cleaning up litter along the roads while wearing a vest that states, "I am a drunk driver." Local officials of Knox County have expressed disapproval of the new punishment.

Courts can now sentence first-time offenders with a minimum of 24 hours of manual labor, entailing trash removal from roadsides.

David Collins, Knox County Commissioner, described the law as 'out of control," while County Sheriff Tim Hutchinson questioned the source of funds that will pay for the vans, vests, and deputies required put the new law into action.

While the law is designed to target first-time offenders in hopes of shaming them away from future offenses, critics say the program could bring negative results. Jacqueline Helfgott, chairperson and professor at the Criminal Justice Department of Seattle University, said, "If I'm forced to wear a sign saying that I'm a drunk driver, then I'm going to feel worse and worse about myself and I may drink more and more because I feel shunned."

Other states have methods of alerting the public and police about previous drunk driving convictions, however they are intended more to protect the public than to create shame for the offender. Ohio, for example, requires bright yellow license plates to expose to the public that the driver has been convicted of DUI.

Gov. Phil Bredesen stated that he opposes the new DUI law because he believes it weakens existing punishments that have already been established for DUI offenders over the age of 21.

"Although I am generally supportive of innovative forms of punishment to address this issue, I am concerned about the possibility of reduced jail time for DUI offenders," Bredesen stated in a letter to members of the House and Senate.

He did not veto the bill, but also didn't sign it. Under state law, a bill that is not signed or vetoed by the governor will become law within ten days.

MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) also opposes the new law. "In MADD's opinion it decreases the deterrent effect of the law," said Laura Dial, the MADD Tennessee executive director. "Jail time is more of a deterrent than community service, which is trash pickup."

July 11, 2005

Related Links:

• Tennessee DUI Laws
• Tennessee DUI Attorneys
• Tennessee Auto Insurance