Published: 5/12/2022


LAST MONTH, THE TENNESSEE HIGHWAY SAFETY OFFICE PARTNERED WITH THE TENNESSEE HIGHWAY PATROL TO EXECUTE OPERATION MATRIX, THE STATE’S FIRST INITIATIVE UTILIZING DRUG RECOGNITION EXPERTS TO COMBAT IMPAIRED DRIVING OF COMMERCIAL VEHICLES. THIS OPERATION WAS CONDUCTED ON APRIL 20 AT THE GILES COUNTY SCALE HOUSE LOCATED ON I-65 NORTH. DRUG RECOGNITION EXPERTS FROM THP’S LAWRENCEBURG DISTRICT 7 TEAMED WITH OTHER TROOPERS AT THE SCALE HOUSE TO CHECK FOR DRIVERS WHO MAY BE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF IMPAIRING SUBSTANCES. MULTIPLE TROOPERS EACH YEAR RECEIVE THE VERY VALUABLE DRUG RECOGNITION TRAINING OFFERED BY THE THSO. EVENTS LIKE THE ONE HELD AT THE COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SCALE COMPLEX IN GILES COUNTY SHOULD SERVE AS AN EXAMPLE TO ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS THAT IMPAIRED DRIVERS ARE NOT JUST DRIVING THE EVERYDAY PASSENGER CAR. TROOPERS WORKING THE OPERATION SUCCESSFULLY REMOVED SEVEN COMMERCIAL DRIVERS FROM THE HIGHWAYS FOR VARIOUS TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS AND 12 COMMERCIAL VEHICLES FOR SAFETY VIOLATIONS.