Senator says ‘Tennesseans deserve transparency and accountability’ after former troopers reveal DUI quotas led to sober drivers’ arrests

Two ex-troopers claim internal pressure from the THP to increase DUI arrests is resulting in innocent people being charged with the crime.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – A Tennessee senator is calling for greater accountability in law enforcement after two former troopers revealed that DUI quotas and internal pressures contributed to the arrests of drivers who were not impaired. The revelations came as part of an update to WSMV4 Investigates’ Sobering Problem investigation.

Sen. Raumesh Akbari, Tennessee Senate minority leader, introduced a bill aimed at identifying which law enforcement agencies are arresting sober individuals for DUI offenses. Governor Bill Lee signed the bill into law on May 2.

Under the new law, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is required to annually report not only the number of DUI arrests involving sober drivers but also the specific police agencies responsible for these arrests.

In response to WSMV4’s latest reporting, Sen. Akbari issued the following statement:

“Tennesseans deserve transparency and accountability in law enforcement. When people begin to question whether arrests are made for any reason other than public safety, trust erodes.
Our troopers do difficult, essential work every day. It is the legislature’s responsibility to shape better policy, and we have work to do to ensure that law enforcement decisions are always guided by safety and fairness. Building public confidence in policing should be our shared goal.”

Senate Minority Leader Raumesh Akbari