Tennessee Highway Patrol cracks down on speeding

Officials from the Tennessee Highway Patrol announced this week to be what they called “Operation Southern Shield,” a more concentrated effort to enforce speed limits across the state of Tennessee.

Lieutenant Richard Garrison of THP said they have been engaged in this program for at least the past six years.

“We encourage self-compliance on all traffic laws and seatbelt usage, year round,” Garrison said.

The measure’s formal name comes from the greater levels of enforcement along Tennessee’s roads throughout the week. He said the week is given a similar level of treatment to holiday weekends due to the increase in summer travel, posting special officers along the roads for the express purpose of catching people speeding on highways.

“THP will have troopers, who are considered ‘Admins,’ working the roads during this week, like we do on holiday weekends,” he said.

Though the “operation” has been an annual program for a number of years, this year’s comes after a series of driving-related regulations coming through the state legislature. The beginning of the month saw the new Hands Free law take effect, which bans just about any physical contact with a cellular device while driving, barring an emergency.

The campaign does not just focus on that speedometer, however. Tennessee’s “slow-poke” law prevents vehicles from driving in the left lane without other vehicles passing on their right.

Garrison said the campaign is meant to raise awareness of their presence on the state’s highways and interstates, hopefully to convince them to slow down before their speed ever becomes a problem.

“Publicizing any enforcement event is educational and a huge deterrent to reckless driving behavior,” Garrison said.

In Tennessee, reckless driving’s legal definition includes any speed over 80 miles per hour, or any speed exceeding 20 over the posted speed limit.

According to the Tennessee Highway Safety Office’s 2018 report, the state experienced 1,040 fatalities in 2017 alone.

According to drivinglaws.com, reckless driving convictions are Class B misdemeanors.

“Convicted drivers are looking at up to six months in jail and a maximum $580 in fines, and any motorist who racks up two reckless driving convictions within a one-year period faces a 12-month license suspension,” they said.

The campaign is in effect until the end of the week.

SportsPlus

Local news

RipTide Car Wash gets final site OK; city may review zoning code

Community

Senior Center Schedule

Local news

Carter County Legends Lunch: A tradition of fellowship and memories

Local news

Seeger Chapel improvements improve spiritual development, cultural experiences at Milligan

Local news

Betsy Band does it again

Local news

Celebrate the season with ‘Mickey’s Christmas Carol’

Local news

Milligan Musical Theatre presents ‘The Marvelous Wonderettes’

Local news

Food City kicks off Race Against Hunger campaign

Community

Hampton and Watauga Lodges to host Thanksgiving Dinner

Local news

ETSU introduces new awards at Celebration of Research

Local news

Experience the magic of ‘The Polar Express’ at the newly renovated Jackson Theatre

Local news

Elizabethton Parks and Recreation Department honored at 2024 TRPA Conference with multiple awards

Local news

Carter Mansion Specialty Tours will focus on Christmas traditions

Local news

Autumn Heritage Celebration is this weekend at Sycamore Shoals

Church News

Church Briefs

Church News

Can I know I’m in the place where God wants me?

Local news

FEMA hosts Industry Day for owners of rental property

Arrests

Johnson City woman arrested on assault, underage consumption charges

Local news

Study reveals TN child care workers face poverty wages

Local news

Region A.H.E.A.D. shares $436,000 in flood recovery grants to small business owners

Local news

Local girl will play in softball tournament in the Netherlands

Local news

Step into the ‘Cabaret’ with ETSU Theatre

Local news

Carter voters overwhelmingly back Trump, Blackburn, Harshbarger

Local news

Tri-Cities area McDonald’s honoring veterans with free meals