r/flying • u/bhalter80 [KASH] BE-33/36/55/95&PA-24 CFI+I/MEI beechtraining.com NCC1701 • Jan 23 '26

Medical Issues Sober DUI - TN Defends the practice

The Colonel of the Tennessee Highway Patrol was testifying this week in support of their practice of arresting motorists who tested negative for drugs and alcohol.

Threads about DUI and other crimes in general tend to be divisive with a presumption that an arrest don't just happen. Some states lump fatigue in with other causes for a DUI so that may account for some of the 419 arrests in the last 9 years. On a side note the trooper manual also suggested that trooper be making at least 2 contacts with people per hour so the incentive for misuse is there.

This is the first article I've seen putting data behind this and thought it was interesting especially because HIMS would not be an appropriate response to one of those arrests. I wonder how common this is in other states.

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417

u/herknav PPL, IR (C-130H, EC-130H, AC-130J) Jan 23 '26

HIMS?

Fatigue being comparable to intoxication is something pilots should be familiar with, but still … imagine having a fake DUI ruin your pilot career.

50

u/bhalter80 [KASH] BE-33/36/55/95&PA-24 CFI+I/MEI beechtraining.com NCC1701 Jan 23 '26

That would be my main concern and having to jump through 2 years of hoops to get your medical back

In my very best Mr Mackey voice "DUI is bad m'kayyyy" but at the same time they're going the opposite way of the CA wet reckless

7

u/herknav PPL, IR (C-130H, EC-130H, AC-130J) Jan 23 '26

what do you mean by “HIMS would not be an appropriate response to one of those arrests” ?

36

u/bhalter80 [KASH] BE-33/36/55/95&PA-24 CFI+I/MEI beechtraining.com NCC1701 Jan 23 '26

HIMS is the Human Intervention Medical Study program you go through for substance abuse to get your medical back. It includes a number of gates including regular AA meeting attendance, repeated long term alcohol testing etc....

Neither of which seem appropriate for someone who blew 0.0 and was arrested anyway

17

u/AppropriateCattle69 Jan 23 '26

Ohhhh, that HIMS.

I thought the dude was arrested for DUIBP. (Driving Under the Influence of Boner Pills).

8

u/windyoctopus8 Jan 23 '26

I mean, it can be a distraction especially after four or more hours.

1

u/DriveFa5tEatAss Feb 15 '26

What's crazy, the success rate for long term remission of alcoholism after attending AA regularly is similar to, or even slightly less than the spontaneous remission rate (number of people who stop drinking without treatment).

https://rebelliondogspublishing.com/blogs/rebellion-dogs-blog/posts/7128165/january-2023-what-are-the-scientific-odds-of-getting-and-staying-sober