Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam will call an “extraordinary session” of the state’s 109th General Assembly to consider legislation aimed at preventing loss of $60 million in federal highway funds after the U.S. DOT deemed the state out of compliance with a federal “zero tolerance” drunk driving statute.
In August, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) notified the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) that 2016 Tennessee Public Chapter No. 1030, which passed during the 2016 legislative session and strengthens penalties for DUI offenders aged 18 to 20, actually leaves the state out of compliance with a federal “zero tolerance” drunk driving statute. The federal law makes certain federal highway funding contingent on compliance.
"We are disappointed in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s decision. The state made clear to federal officials that while it disagrees with the interpretation that Tennessee is out of compliance, any such perceived impact of the law was inadvertent and could be fixed in January 2017,” Haslam said. “To avoid any negative impact to the state, I will ask the General Assembly to convene in a special session and clarify state law in this matter.”
(more on TN special legislative session to save federal funds . . . )
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