MEMPHIS, TN -
(WMC-TV) – Before you hit the roadway this Labor Day weekend, you need to know about a new law that could send you to jail if you are drinking and driving.
You are likely to see more cops on patrol looking for impaired drivers.
And if you are one of those drinking behind the wheel, you will no longer be able to refuse a blood alcohol test.
"It seems like they're taking our rights away from us. We should have the right to refuse alcohol or sobriety tests. We should be able to say yes or no to that," said resident Sharon Morning.
While some residents don't like the new "No Refusal" law that went into effect July 1, others say it is time drunk driving laws got tougher.
"This was the only area of law where we let the criminal control the evidence. Now we have the authority to override that refusal," said District Attorney Mike Dunavant.
The "No Refusal" law allows law enforcement to get a search warrant for blood samples from people suspected of driving impaired.
In Tipton County, traffic fatalities are up and officials hope this new law will bring those numbers back down.
"Already in Tipton County, we've had 726 crashes and six fatalities and we want to do what we can to prevent this," added Tipton County Sheriff Pancho Chumley.
Judges and other law enforcement officials will be on call the entire weekend, ready to sign search warrants to take a drivers' blood.
Officials say keeping drivers safe is their top priority.
The "No Refusal" enforcement period started at 6 p.m. Friday and goes until midnight Monday.
Copyright 2012 WMC-TV. All rights reserved.
(Source: Jeffery Smith)
