NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — After an ongoing FOX 17 investigation into ‘sober DUI’ arrests in Tennessee, we obtained new data from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, following a law prompted by the series of reports. The data shows a sizeable increase in DUI arrests in 2024, where the driver arrested tested negative for both alcohol or drugs.
The new data on ‘sober DUI’ arrests statewide comes after the passage of SB 11166, last year. The law requires a list to be culminated of all DUI arrests that resulted in zero detected alcohol and drugs, along with the arresting jurisdiction. Previously, this information was not available in public records requests due to privacy laws.
Law enforcement agencies across the state totalled 419 ‘sober DUI’ arrests in 2024. It’s a noticeable increase from the year before, which totaled 45 in 2023, according to previous data released by TBI. That’s an increase nine times over…