On the evening of Friday, 01/30/2015, the Franklin Police Department will conduct a sobriety checkpoint on Franklin Road near S Berrys Chapel Road. This checkpoint, however, is special; it is dedicated to the memory of Allen Schlapman, who was killed on that stretch of Franklin Road. On 11/21/2012, a drunk driver hit the motorcycle Allen was driving, head-on.

“Driving impaired is not an error in judgment; it is a choice,” said Chief Deborah Faulkner. “Impaired drivers who selfishly risk the safety of Franklin drivers will be arrested, period. Allen Schlapman was someone’s brother. He was someone’s husband, someone’s father, and someone’s friend. This checkpoint is dedicated to his memory, and to everyone he loved.”

The DUI offender who killed Schlapman is serving a 20-year prison sentence. He is listed as being eligible for parole as early as 06/02/2018.

In 2014, the Tennessee Governor’s Highway Safety Office awarded the Department with a $50,000 grant to use for anti-DUI initiatives including DUI checkpoints, saturation patrols, training, equipment, and overtime for officers working this checkpoint.

In 2013, there were 6,699 known alcohol-related traffic crashes in Tennessee. Nationally, one in three traffic fatalities are a result of an alcohol-impaired driving crash.