Reducing deaths and injuries from drunk driving are the goals for the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office joining with the “Tie One on for Safety” campaign sponsored by the Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
MADD is asking law enforcement officers to participate in the annual campaign to enforce DUI laws and citizens to tie red ribbons on their vehicles in a pledge to drive safe and sober.
Sheriff’s Training Sgt. Jon Frazier and Deputy A.J. Ross joined representatives of MADD, the Governor’s Highway Safety Program, the Tennessee Highway Patrol and other Middle Tennessee law enforcement officers Tuesday to kick off the annual campaign.
“Our effort is simple,” Frazier said. “Be diligent in traffic enforcement and DUI suppression in Rutherford County.”
The sheriff’s office and the Tennessee Highway Patrol will conduct sobriety checkpoints in December to help enforce the DUI laws, the sergeant said.
“I am asking all our officers to be diligent in traffic enforcement and DUI suppression through the holiday season and year round, and to make the roads safe for our families, our citizens, and our visitors to Rutherford County,” Frazier said.
In a press release, MADD spokeswoman Sonya Manfred said this is the time of the year when drunken driving crashes are most prevalent. She urged drivers to be extra vigilant about planning ahead for a safe way home when holiday festivities include alcohol.
