Court of Criminal Appeals Hears Challenge to Traffic Stop Video in Valerie Garrett DUI Case

The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals heard argument in State of Tennessee v. Valerie Garrett over whether a traffic stop that led to a DUI arrest should have been suppressed, with defense counsel saying body‑camera video contradicts the officer's testimony and the state urging the court to affirm the trial court's denial of the suppression motion.

The appeal centers on whether the officer had reasonable suspicion or probable cause to stop Garrett after the officer testified she crossed the centerline twice and the trial court found corroboration in the video. "It's our position that the crossing of the yellow line, we say that just didn't happen," defense attorney Hal Dorsey told the three‑judge panel, arguing the video shows Garrett did not touch or cross the yellow line. Dorsey conceded on the record that Garrett "crossed the segmented line" when making a left turn from Hollywood onto North Parkway,…