Being arrested for driving under the influence during a traffic stop is one of the worst things that can happen. This is because of the driver’s destructive decision and the consequences they could face. Additionally, this action could cause a ton of harm to others on the road. However, a new study from a Tennessee news outlet says hundreds of drivers found themselves with a DUI charge despite being completely sober. This brings into question many of the methods for the detection of drugs and alcohol for drivers.

Driving under the influence is never a good idea, but a fraudulent DUI charge is also horrific

Many people are arrested during traffic stops for driving under the influence. However, this new investigation by WSMV 4 shows that some of the people with a DUI charge are innocent in Tenessee. Of course, having this charge could put a person’s job in jeopardy and could cause them to lose their car insurance. For the report, the outlet used a backlog of alcohol and drug toxicology reports from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. 

The data from the report says that 31,567 people were arrested in Tennessee for driving under the influence between 2017 and 2023 with no alcohol in their systems. The initial data did not show how many of these drivers also tested negative for drugs. However, upon inquiring, the outlet found that the number of people with neither drugs nor alcohol was 609. 

Of course, the percentage of people arrested for driving under the influence when they shouldn’t have been is small. This is because the vast majority of people with a DUI charge were actually guilty. Still, this is concerning. This also means it’s more than likely happening in other states to drivers who followed the laws and didn’t drink and drive. 

WSMV 4 Investigates spoke to the executive director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving in Tennessee. According to them, “Nobody wants drunk drivers on the road, ever. But what does it say that we keep finding sober people being arrested for DUI? I have heard of those on a very limited scale, and those are, of course, tragic for anyone involved.”

They also spoke to Xavier Gray, a Tennessee man who the police arrested for driving under the influence. He says, “I knew nothing was in my system. I was really afraid about losing my license.”

He goes on, “It’s a miscarriage of justice. It seems like they’re doing it all over Tennessee.”

Notably, this does not include data from 2024. 

For more reading, check out this article on the types of field sobriety tests you can expect if police suspect you’re driving under the influence.