RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN - This Valentine’s Day, nothing says love like swerving while trying to steal a kiss from your significant other, especially if you’ve just wrapped up a meal that was topped off with a few adult beverages. Authorities throughout Rutherford County will be out in full force to prevent accidents caused by drinking and driving throughout the day and into the night on Valentine’s.

While couples are busy planning candlelit dinners or scrambling to find last-minute heart-shaped chocolates, Troopers, officers, and deputies from the Rutherford County Traffic Safety Task Force will be busy slowing down speeding drivers and pulling over motorists who choose to use drugs or alcohol instead of seat belts – all in a bid to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries caused by irresponsible driving.

Troopers, officers and deputies from the Rutherford County Traffic Safety Task Force will participate in “Cupid’s Broken Arrow” where they will concentrate on drivers who break the law, according to Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Joey Story. “We don’t want anybody’s heart broken” on Valentine’s Day,” said Story, who coordinated the enforcement drive.

The enforcement will be conducted from 9 a.m. to midnight throughout Murfreesboro, Smyrna, La Vergne and Rutherford County on Interstates 24 and I-840, state highways and roads where frequent traffic crashes occur. Their emphasis will be to reduce traffic deaths and injuries.

U.S. Highway 231 South (Shelbyville Highway) will be a focus due to the high number of traffic deaths last year. Officers will check to see if drivers are wearing seat belts.  “Seat belts safe lives,” Story said. “Our fatalities are up with unrestrained drivers.”