The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office is concluding another successful year with favorable results after receiving a RIID Grant from the Tennessee Governor’s Highway Safety Office. The RIID Grant, (Remove Impaired-Intoxicated Drivers), allows the HCSO the opportunity to use additional federal funds to support traffic enforcement operations for the sole purpose of removing impaired and/or intoxicated drivers from our roads in order to protect our community from senseless and fatal crashes that may occur as a result of alcohol or drug impairment.
During the period of October 2014 through September 2015, the HCSO goal was a minimum of a 7% increase from last year’s arrests made for impaired or intoxicated drivers.
The HCSO accomplished this goal.
Deputies experienced an increase in DUI arrests during this grant period. A total of 30 arrests were made during this 2014 - 2015 grant period verses a total of 23 DUI arrests made during the 2013 - 2014 grant period.
During the 2014 - 2015 grant period Hamilton County Sheriff's Office investigated a total of three fatal crashes in the unincorporated areas with one of them being alcohol related. Deputies are removing more impaired and intoxicated drivers from the roads and it is clear lives are being saved.
The RIID Grant has allowed deputies and traffic personnel to also see improvements due to the higher visibility of more law enforcement personnel and increased enforcement measures. The RIID Grant has allowed the HCSO to have additional manpower on the streets and the citizens in Hamilton County have been able to see an increased presence of law enforcement personnel.
HCSO school resource officers have also contributed to the success of the RIID Grant. For example, during this year’s RIDD Grant period, 243 presentations were made by SROs on topics such as drunk driving, driving impaired, drugs, and the negative effects of drugs and alcohol. 6,989 students participated in these presentations. In April, a simulated crash was conducted at Sale Creek Middle/High School in cooperation of the Hamilton County Health Department to further illustrate to students the dangers of driving while impaired or intoxicated.
The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Tennessee Governor’s Highway Safety Office for its generous support to help improve the safety of local roads, citizens, and helping to save lives.