The 13th Judicial District Attorney has received an estimated $214,000 in Federal Traffic Safety funding to assist with DUI Prosecution.
District Attorney Bryant Dunaway said the money funds two positions, which include a DUI prosecutor and a DUI Coordinator. Dunaway said both positions work together on DUI prosecution cases only. Dunaway said DUI prosecution needs special attention as driving under the influence is a huge public safety risk.
“We are seeing better than 50 percent of those impaired drivers are impaired not on alcohol but on drugs of some kind,” Dunaway said. “Methamphetamines, Fentanyl, THC, and various other drugs. And so anytime an impaired driver gets on the road, it endangers all of the rest of the citizens in our community.”
Dunaway said a designated DUI prosecutor is justified, as there is a large volume of DUI cases. Dunaway said his DUI prosecutor serves as an advisor for local law enforcement.
“My DUI prosecutor in Putnam County has close relationships with officers,” Dunaway said. “They call him regularly when they have DUI questions and consult on DUI cases, and it just makes for a more efficient and effective prosecution of the enforcement of impaired driving laws.”
Dunaway said the team is committed protect the public and get impaired drivers off the road.
“We want to effectively prosecute those in court so that people can really be held accountable for their bad decisions and to deter that kind of conduct,” Dunaway said. “You know, if you know you are gonna lose your license and spend a little time in jail and have a driving under the influence conviction, we are hopeful that risk will deter you from getting behind the wheel in the first place.”
Dunaway said driving under the influence is not just a problem in the Upper Cumberland, it is a problem statewide. Dunaway said most district attorney offices across the state have designated DUI prosecutors and coordinators.
