NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — The Tennessee Highway Patrol is pushing back against the controversial “sober DUI” issue that has followed some law enforcement agencies in Tennessee, after an ongoing, two-year FOX 17 News investigation that led to state legislation being passed. The series of reports also revealed the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation had underreported the number of DUI arrests in which drivers tested negative for drugs or alcohol by hundreds since 2017, according to new data released just weeks ago.
The data, now required by state law to be disclosed each year, showed 419 “sober DUI” arrests in 2024. That total includes all law enforcement departments across the state, not just THP. The numbers also revealed 2,547 people have been arrested for DUI in Tennessee since 2017 despite testing negative for alcohol and drugs. That figure is more than three times higher than what was previously reported by officials- 609 arrests from 2017 to 2023. THP had some of the highest “sober DUI” totals, although the agency covers a larger area than most local police departments.
Tennessee Highway Patrol Col. Matt Perry testified before the Senate Transportation and Safety Committee on Wednesday. Sen. Mark Pody, R-Lebanon, asked Perry about news reports of people being arrested despite having no drugs or alcohol in their system…