St. Patrick’s day sobriety checkpoint

Don’t expect the “Luck of the Irish” to protect you if you drink and drive on St. Patrick’s Day.

“Operation Don’t Test Your Luck” will be the theme of a sobriety checkpoint beginning at 10 p.m., Tuesday, March 17 on Rutherford Boulevard between Southeast Broad Street and South Church Street.

The Rutherford County Traffic Safety Task Force will check impaired drivers during the checkpoint. Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers, Murfreesboro and Smyrna Police and sheriff’s deputies are expected to participate.

Officers hope awareness about the checkpoint will keep impaired motorists from driving and prevent traffic deaths and injuries.

Instead, drinking drivers are asked to use a designated driver or get a ride with a taxi or a ride service.

A representative of the Mothers Against Drunk Driving will distribute pamphlets about the consequences of drinking and driving.