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Displaying items by tag: Department of Safety
Displaying items by tag: Department of Safety
Displaying items by tag: Department of Safety
NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security on Wednesday partnered with various state and local agencies to conduct Operation Safe Highways, a statewide safety enforcement and awareness exercise to help make Tennessee safer for motorists. Both the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) and the Office of Homeland Security organized the enhanced enforcement effort that incorporated a “team approach” to inspect commercial vehicles travelling to and throughout Tennessee.
Operation Safe Highways was conducted with assistance from the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) and local sheriffs and police departments. Enhanced inspection efforts were carried out at six Department of Safety and Homeland Security scale complexes, including:
· Robertson County Scale Complex on I-65, just south of the Kentucky border;
· Coffee County Scale Complex on I-24 near Manchester;
· Knox County Scale Complex on I-40 in Knoxville near the I-75 interchange;
· Greene County Scale Complex on I-81 near Greenville;
· Haywood County Scale Complex on I-40 near Brownsville; and
· Giles County Scale Complex on I-65, just north of the Alabama border.
In addition to the routine inspection of commercial vehicles at the scale complexes, state troopers and other law enforcement officers also looked for seat belt violations, suspected drug or human trafficking and other Illegal activities, and hauling dangerous materials. Various units within the THP, including Interdiction Plus troopers and K-9 units, participated in Operation Safe Highways.
“While the primary focus of Operation Safe Highways is enforcement, the other key element is creating awareness. We want the trucking industry to know it can help play an important role in ensuring the safety of the motoring public in Tennessee,” Commissioner Bill Gibbons said.
State troopers informed commercial vehicle operators on the signs of suspicious activity and encouraged trucking industry professionals to be on the lookout for this type of behavior while on the road. Troopers distributed printed educational information to truck drivers, who have a unique perspective and can be key allies in the fight against crime in Tennessee. This information included important phone numbers to law enforcement across the state, and reminded commercial vehicle operators if they see something, to say something.
Operation Safe Highways was not based on any specific threat. During the four-hour operation, 12,646 commercial vehicles were inspected statewide and troopers issued 88 commercial vehicle citations, including 16 for registration violations, 14 overweight citations, and eight defective vehicle tickets. Additionally, 42 commercial vehicles and 16 commercial vehicle drivers were placed out of service.
The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s (www.TN.Gov/safety) mission is to ensure the safety and general welfare of the public. The department encompasses the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Office of Homeland Security and Driver License Services. General areas of responsibility include law enforcement, safety education, motorist services and terrorism prevention.
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TDOT, Safety Department goal to clear roadway in 90 minutes
Classifies incidents as major, intermediate, or minor
Requires reassessment of clearance activities every 30 minutes
Tow truck or wrecker service will provide equipment of the appropriate size, capacity & design to clear the roadway in a reasonable amount of time
Towing companies will not create further delays to off-load cargo or recover a damaged vehicle.
TDOSHS will immediately notify TDOT of any closure lasting longer than 30 minutes
TDOT and TDOSHS will determine and deploy necessary equipment and manpower if task is beyond the capabilities of the wrecker service on scene
Sets 90 minute goal to clear roadway
NASHVILLE – Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) Commissioner John Schroer joined Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security (TDOSHS) Commissioner Bill Gibbons Thursday to sign a new agreement between the two agencies regarding the quick clearance of highway incidents. The goal of the agreement is to ensure public safety and restore Tennessee roadways to full capacity as soon as possible following highway incidents.
TDOT and TDOSHS began working on the new agreement following an incident in December 2011 that closed Interstate 40 in Wilson County for nearly 12 hours, leaving hundreds of motorists stranded overnight.
“Following the potato truck crash in December, we made a promise to the public that we would initiate changes to avoid this type of situation in the future,” said Commissioner Schroer. “We now have specific guidelines that can dramatically reduce the time it takes to clear major incidents from our interstates and major highways.”
The new agreement states the goals and objectives of TDOT and TDOSHS when a serious crash occurs, and clearly defines the responsibilities of those responding to the incident.
“We have an obligation to the people of this state and the motorists traveling our roadways to improve our operations and communication,” added Commissioner Gibbons. “This agreement will allow us to make earlier determinations about the magnitude of an incident and take appropriate action to not only reopen the roadway, but also improve safety for motorists and responders.”
The agreement includes a number of new procedures:
The TDOT/TDOSHS agreement will be guided and monitored by the Commissioners of Transportation and Safety and Homeland Security, Tennessee Highway Patrol Colonel, and TDOT Chief Engineer. To view the entire agreement, please visit http://www.tn.gov/tdot/incident/docs/MOU-TDOT-TDOSHS-Feb-14-2012.pdf.
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Law enforcement will work overtime to crack down on drunk drivers
The Tennessee Department of Transportation Governor’s Highway Safety Office, Tennessee Titans and Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security are once again teaming up to remind Tennessee football fans that real Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk this Super Bowl weekend.
“If your Super Bowl game plan includes celebrating with alcohol make sure you have a sober, designated driver,” said TDOT Commissioner John Schroer. “Law enforcement officials will be working overtime to ensure that Tennessee’s roads are safe, so if you drink and drive this weekend, chances are you’ll be caught.”
Nearly 7,500 Titans fans promised to be the designated driver for friends and family during the 2011 season, making the Titans one of the top teams in the AFC South for designated driver pledges. Today, the Titans, TDOT’s GHSO and the Department of Safety and Homeland Security honored some of those designated drivers with an exclusive tour of LP Field.
“In addition to supporting the Titans this past football season, these fans made a very important commitment – one that saves lives,” said GHSO Director Kendell Poole. “By pledging to be a designated driver, they made sure their friends and family had a safe ride home from LP Field and did their part to keep Tennessee roads free of impaired drivers.”
This season, Titans fans joined more than 220,000 NFL fans in the Designated Driver program, which is a collaboration among all 32 NFL teams, 31 stadiums, concessionaires, beer distributors and brewers, broadcasters, law enforcement agencies, and traffic safety experts.
“We’re proud of our fans’ dedication to responsible behavior this season and we want all football fans to follow their leadership this weekend,” added Don MacLachlan, Titans Executive Vice President of Administration and Facilities. “Handing your keys to a sober driver or taking a cab will always make you a winner.”
“This Super Bowl Sunday, we want to see zero alcohol-related fatalities in Tennessee,” said Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Bill Gibbons. “Between the sobriety checkpoints, roving patrols, and concerned citizens, if you choose to drive impaired this weekend, we plan to catch you.”
According to the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, troopers arrested 45 people for driving under the influence during the 2011 Super Bowl weekend. Between Friday, February 4, 2011 and Sunday, February 6 at 11:59 p.m. there were 5 people killed on Tennessee roadways. Two of those deaths occurred in alcohol related crashes.
Tennessee Highway Patrol Colonel Tracy Trott reminded football fans that drinking and driving is not worth the risk. “Not only do you risk killing yourself or someone else, the cost of a DUI conviction is significant. Violators face jail time, loss of their driver license, higher insurance rates, hefty legal fees, and many other expenses.”
“We want everyone to make the right call for the Super Bowl by passing their keys to a sober driver,” added Poole. “If you’re hosting a party, make sure your celebration doesn’t end in tragedy. Designate a sober driver and have phone numbers for local taxi services on hand for those who’ve had too much to drink.”
For more information, please visit www.StopImpairedDriving.org or www.TeamCoalition.org.
The THP will participate in a multi-jurisdictional DUI Blitz with several law enforcement agencies from 2 p.m. through 2 a.m. on Super Bowl Sunday. The collaborative effort will involve saturation patrols, extensive bar checks and a pre-arranged sobriety checkpoint. A listing of THP sobriety and driver’s license checkpoints is attached to this release and can be found at http://www.tn.gov/safety/SuperbowlCheckpoints.pdf.
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The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security announced Monday that during the month of November it had more than doubled the number of photo identifications issued for voting purposes since the end of October.
As of November 28, the department had issued 6,566 photo IDs for voting purposes, compared to the 2,385 issued as of October 31. A new state law will require a federal or state-issued photo ID to vote starting in 2012. The law also requires the Department of Safety and Homeland Security to issue photo IDs for voting purposes at no charge.
The number of photo IDs issued for voting purposes includes original photo identification cards (for voters who had never been issued a driver license or photo ID and were not already in the Department’s database) and non-photo driver licenses converted into photo driver licenses. (Drivers in Tennessee age 60 and older may opt to carry a non-photo driver license.)
For citizens who need a photo ID for voting purposes, the Department of Safety and Homeland Security is opening 19 driver service centers this Saturday, December 3, and on the first Saturday of each month through March for the purpose of issuing voter photo IDs only. The centers will be open normal business hours, from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Driver service centers are open on the first Saturday of each month in the following counties: Davidson (Centennial Blvd. and Hart Lane), Hamilton (both locations), Knox (both locations), Shelby (East Shelby Drive and Summer Avenue), Sullivan, Sumner, Rutherford, Washington, Williamson, Montgomery, Blount, Bradley, Putnam, Greene, and Carter.
“I am encouraged by the increase in the number of photo IDs issued for voting purposes. We are making a great effort to get the word out about the new law and the options voters have to obtain photo IDs, if needed. I urge any voter who needs a photo ID to obtain one from the department as soon as possible,” Commissioner Bill Gibbons said.
To minimize the possibility of wait times during Saturday hours, groups or organizations planning to make a group visit to a driver service center should schedule an appointment by calling Linda Cone at 731-225-0924 or Wanda Adams at 615-251-5300.
In addition, 30 county clerks’ offices across the state are converting non-photo driver licenses to photo driver licenses for voters who need them free of charge.
For more information on the new voter photo ID law, including acceptable forms of photo identification and documents needed to obtain a photo ID for voting purposes, please visit the Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s website at www.tn.gov/safety.
The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s (www.TN.Gov/safety) mission is to ensure the safety and general welfare of the public. The department encompasses the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Office of Homeland Security and Driver License Services. General areas of responsibility include law enforcement, safety education, motorist services and terrorism prevention.
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The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security has started the implementation of new business hours for its 49 Driver Service Centers across the state.
Effective today, all Driver Service Centers will operate during the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The change comes as part of the department’s top-to-bottom review, which aims to provide efficient, customer-friendly service to every Tennessean.
“We have been working tirelessly to improve the operating procedures and efficiency of our Driver Service Centers,” said Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Bill Gibbons. “Having consistent days and hours of operation at each station is one way to help provide better service to all patrons and ultimately create a more customer-friendly system at driver license centers in Tennessee.”
Since March, the department has unveiled a new, more secure driver license and identification card to ward off document fraud and protect the identities of Tennesseans; consolidated driver license services in Rutherford County and launched a reinstatement-only service center in Davidson County as part of an overall effort to improve driver license services in the state. Additionally, in May a new full-service Driver Service Center was opened in Memphis. The newly-constructed, more modern East Shelby Drive facility in Memphis includes expanded customer service desks to help adequately service one of the largest counties in Tennessee.
“While the efforts we have made so far are noteworthy, we look forward to completing our top-to-bottom review before implementing significant change,” Commissioner Gibbons said.
As part of his review, Commissioner Gibbons has visited Driver Service Centers in Davidson, Knox, Lawrence, Madison, Hamilton, Putnam, Roane, and Shelby counties.
The Tennessee Department of Safety’s mission is (www.TN.Gov/safety) to ensure the safety and general welfare of the public. The department encompasses the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Office of Homeland Security and Driver License Services. General areas of responsibility include law enforcement, safety education, motorist services and terrorism prevention.
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Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Bill Gibbons on Tuesday announced the state will soon issue new and improved driver licenses and identification cards. The new license and its updated security features will help combat document fraud and protect the identities of Tennesseans by using the latest credentialing technology. This is the first major revision of Tennessee driver licenses and ID cards since 2003.
“A top priority of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security is safeguarding the identity of Tennessee citizens to prevent identity theft and document fraud,” said Commissioner Gibbons. “The new cards will be the most secure our state has issued to date.”
All current Tennessee licenses and IDs will remain valid until the expiration date; at that time, license holders will apply for a newly-designed card. New card production began on a pilot basis on Tuesday, March 15 in Gallatin. The new cards will begin to roll out across the state starting at driver license stations in the four metropolitan areas (Davidson, Knox, Hamilton, and Shelby Counties) later this month. Statewide implementation of the new card is expected to be completed at all locations within four to six weeks.
“Tennessee driver licenses have not been updated in eight years, and the technology behind them is eight years old,” Gibbons explained. “These new cards utilize the latest technology. They are more secure and are designed to be more difficult to counterfeit, alter, or duplicate,” he stressed.
The driver license and ID cards include several upgraded design and security features, including:
“The existing licenses are still valid. There is no need for citizens to get a new license before their existing licenses expire,” stressed Driver Services Director Michael Hogan. “But anyone applying for a new license or renewing an existing license will receive the newly designed format,” he added.
To help protect identities and prevent document fraud, the state of Tennessee requires all new applicants for a driver license or identification card to present the following:
Fees for the new driver license and ID will not change. The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Driver Services Division annually issues 1.5 million licenses and ID cards to Tennesseans. For more information on and to see examples of the new driver license and ID card, please click here.
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The mission of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (www.TN.Gov/safety) is to ensure the safety and general welfare of the public. The department encompasses the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Office of Homeland Security and Driver License Services. General areas of responsibility include law enforcement, safety education, motorist services and terrorism prevention.
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