Rutherford County, TN – Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) troopers, in collaboration with the Rutherford County Traffic Safety Task Force, arrested five drivers for DUI during a Labor Day sobriety checkpoint held Friday on Rutherford Boulevard in Murfreesboro. The operation was aimed at curbing impaired driving and the end result equaled multiple arrests, with additional charges related to drug possession and weapon violations.

Among those arrested, one driver was charged with possession of a weapon while intoxicated, according to THP Sgt. Jeffery Boyd. In addition to the DUI arrests, four individuals faced charges for simple possession of marijuana, and two drivers were cited for driving on suspended licenses.

Sgt. Boyd attributed the checkpoint's success to the teamwork of various law enforcement agencies involved. Boyd suggested the task force takes impaired driving seriously, and the results show just that. Boyd further noted that while it's regrettable some drivers chose to get behind the wheel after drinking, “…many others made the best decision and either had a designated driver or didn’t drive at all.”

First time DUI offenders in the Volunteer State face up to 11-months and 29-days behind bars. For those who refuse to submit to a blood alcohol test on their first offense, drivers face losing their license for one-year. Some offenders may be ordered to participate in an alcohol or drug treatment program and pay to have an ignition interlocking device installed on their vehicle. Costs for a DUI can easily hit $5,900 or more. Read more about DUI HERE.

Over the past 12-months in Tennessee, the largest percentage of DUI offenders have been between the ages of 20 and 34, with the age groups of 35 to 49 falling in at second.

Approximately 370 vehicles passed through the checkpoint, with officers from THP, Murfreesboro Police Department, Smyrna Police Department, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, and the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office participating in the effort.