Through a major grant from the Governor’s Highway Safety Office (GHSO), La Vergne will have more police officers on the streets this weekend conducting alcohol saturation patrols.
After receiving more than $41,000 from a program funded through the GHSO by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, officers will conduct aggressive patrols to search for alcohol violations. In addition to seeking out people who are driving under the influence, police will also be looking for underage possession or consumption of alcohol and open alcohol containers.
“During the holidays we see many alcohol related crashes resulting in higher numbers of injuries and deaths,” said Police Chief Mike Walker. “We will be working very aggressively to find people who are drinking and driving and then getting them off the road. We don’t want people to be hurt as they celebrate the New Year. We want everyone to have a safe and a happy holiday.”
The grant enables officers to work four hour shifts before or after a regular shift or ten-hour shifts on regularly scheduled days off. Officers will be on alcohol saturation patrols between 5:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. this holiday weekend, as well as other holidays like Super Bowl Sunday, St. Patrick’s Day, and Cinco de Mayo.
Another holiday tradition is fireworks. The City of LaVergnereminds residents and visitors that from December 19 - January 3, fireworks are allowed until 10:00 p.m. However, on December 31st, fireworks are allowed until 1:00 a.m.