RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN (WGNS) - A sobriety checkpoint has been scheduled in Rutherford County just one day before Valentine’s Day, with multiple law enforcement agencies joining forces to keep impaired drivers off the road. According to the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office and the Tennessee Highway Patrol, troopers will sponsor a DUI sobriety checkpoint from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday, February 13, along Barfield-Crescent Road near Murfreesboro. The operation will also include deputies from the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office and officers with the Rutherford County Traffic Safety Task Force.
Troopers and deputies will briefly stop vehicles to check for signs of impairment and ensure motorists are driving sober. Authorities say the checkpoint is part of an ongoing effort to reduce alcohol-related crashes, especially during weekends and major events.
Refraining from drinking and driving can save lives. Brandon Shull, a sergeant with the Tennessee Highway Patrol said, “It’s heart-breaking to see family members be victims of a DUI crash.”
Shull also urged drivers to plan ahead if they intend to consume alcohol, noting that the checkpoint follows Super Bowl Sunday and falls on the eve of Valentine’s Day—both occasions when alcohol consumption often increases.
“If you drink, stay home, or if you go out, get an Uber or a ride share, or get a driver who is sober to take you home,” Shull said.
Law enforcement officials stress that sobriety checkpoints are designed not only to identify impaired drivers but also to serve as a visible deterrent, encouraging motorists to make safer choices before getting behind the wheel.
Adding to the timing, the checkpoint falls on Friday the 13th, a date long associated with bad luck in popular culture and folklore. While some beliefs tie the superstition to religious history, others point to the number 13 being viewed as imperfect or ominous—an idea reinforced by decades of books and films such as the horror classic Friday the 13th. The fear of the date is so well-known that it even has a scientific name: paraskavedekatriaphobia.
Despite the superstition, law enforcement officials say the message is simple and serious: impaired driving is preventable, and planning ahead can save lives.
