RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN (WGNS) – According to data from the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, thousands of impaired driving arrests are made across the state each year, reflecting a persistent challenge for local law enforcement. While alcohol remains a primary concern, the rise in marijuana use and its impact on road safety has become an increasingly significant focus for agencies like the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office. Sergeant Austin Watson, a supervisor over the traffic unit at the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, noted that while alcohol-related DUIs remain more prevalent due to alcohol’s legal status, drug-impaired driving is growing as marijuana becomes more accessible and legalized in various forms across the country.
One of the dual-purpose tools used in DUI enforcement is the sobriety checkpoint…
Sgt. Watson said checkpoints serve as both an educational and visual deterrent, while also functioning as an enforcement mechanism to remove impaired drivers from the roadway. The most recent local checkpoint was conducted on Barfield-Crescent Road near Murfreesboro, Feb. 13, 2026…