If a sober former US attorney can be mistakenly arrested for DUI in Tennessee, then anyone is susceptible to such an experience. | Carscoops

      These are just a few of the over 600 sober drivers arrested for DUI in Tennessee since 2017.

      22 hours ago

      by Stephen Rivers

      Jane Bondurant, a former U.S. Attorney, claims she was mistakenly arrested for DUI by Tennessee State Police. She is the eighth sober driver to be arrested and reportedly the sixteenth by the THP in recent months. Governor Lee has pointed to new transparency laws, but Bondurant argues that the issue remains unresolved.

      The increasing number of sober drivers arrested for DUI in Tennessee raises significant concerns regarding the enforcement of impaired driving laws in the state. Since portable breath test results are not admissible in Tennessee courts, officers frequently depend on standard field sobriety tests, which may be unreliable. The most recent arrest has drawn public attention not only for its circumstances but also due to the person involved: a former U.S. Attorney.

      That driver is 71-year-old Jane Bondurant, who was arrested following a minor collision with a local police officer. State trooper Sam Zahn responded to the scene and conducted a field sobriety test on Bondurant. In his report, he stated that she had “bloodshot watery eyes” and displayed signs of impairment.

      Test Results Show Otherwise

      After her arrest in November 2024, authorities sent Bondurant’s blood sample for testing, which ultimately cleared her name. Besides a sleep medication she had taken the previous night, her blood contained no drugs or alcohol. Although prosecutors dismissed the charge, she was far from satisfied. “Shock was my initial reaction. Trauma. And that trauma lasted for months,” Bondurant shared with WSMV. “I believe I’m one person too many.”

      Of the 16 cases of sober DUI arrests discovered by WSMV, eight involved Trooper Zahn. Remarkably, officials throughout the state have apprehended over 600 sober individuals for DUI since 2017. This wave of false positives has prompted some beneficial changes. Governor Bill Lee highlighted a new law mandating the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to gather data on sober drivers who have been wrongfully arrested for DUI.

      The Hidden Consequences

      However, that report will not encompass the repercussions of such incidents. For instance, Bondurant lost her insurance coverage due to the arrest. She is certainly not the only one adversely affected, and it's likely that others have encountered even more difficult situations. One individual affected by the situation remarked, “My life has been a nightmare for the last 17, 18 months.” It is hoped that Tennessee can rectify these issues, as drivers in the state would be appreciative.

      Credit: THP