Bombshell discovery in WSMV4 investigation into sober drivers arrested for driving under the influence, Monday evening at 6 p.m.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – A WSMV4 investigation has revealed how many Tennesseans have been charged with driving under the influence who were completely sober at the time.

It is the latest discovery in WSMV4’s “Sobering Problem” investigation.

One by one, WSMV shared their stories. Mothers who lost temporary custody of their children, fathers who lost their jobs and insurance. Case after case of sober drivers accused of driving under the influence.

WSMV4 Investigates has now discovered how often this happened.

After investigating sobering issues, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation collected all cases over a seven-year period of people charged with driving under the influence who had no alcohol or drugs in their system.

This trial revealed that it had happened to more than 600 Tennesseans. The number of Tennessee drivers charged with driving under the influence while completely sober was 609.

For perspective, if all the sober drivers accused of drunk driving went to the Ryman, they would take up more than half the balcony seats.

WSMV4 shared these findings with Xavier Gray, the latest Tennessean found by the WSMV 4 Investigates team, arrested for driving under the influence, whose blood work shows he was completely sober at the time.

“It’s a miscarriage of justice,” Gray said. “I knew there was nothing in my system. I thought I was a special situation, but it looks like I’m not.”

The first part of the data was collected at the request of State Representative Lowell Russell, who reviewed the investigations into WSMV4’s sobering problems.

Russell said one of his constituents had been arrested for drunken driving and was also sober at the time.

The data doesn’t even mention how many times this happened in 2024. Gray’s arrest happened this year.

Even mothers who oppose drunk driving call these cases “tragic.”

You will hear from them when our investigation continues on Monday at 6pm