Safety Officer Scott Diehl and Tom Kimball from the state Attorney’s General Office pose with Rutherford County Sheriff's Deputy A.J. Ross and Training Sgt. Jon Frazier on Nov. 15, 2011, in Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Photo courtesy of RCSO)

The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office is joining forces with Mothers Against Drunk Driving for a new awareness campaign called “Tie One on for Safety.”

MADD is asking law enforcement officers to participate in the annual campaign to enforce anti-drunk driving laws and citizens to tie red ribbons on their vehicles in a pledge to drive safe and sober.

Sheriff’s Training Sgt. Jon Frazier and Deputy A.J. Ross joined representatives from MADD, the Governor’s Highway Safety Program, the Tennessee Highway Patrol and other Middle Tennessee law enforcement officials Tuesday to kick off the annual campaign.

Frazier said the red ribbon is designed to show support for the law enforcement effort.

“Our effort is simple,” Frazier said. “Be diligent in traffic enforcement and DUI suppression in Rutherford County.”

The Sheriff’s Office and the Tennessee Highway Patrol will conduct sobriety checkpoints in December to help enforce the DUI laws, Frazier said.

“I am asking all our officers to be diligent in traffic enforcement and DUI suppression through the holiday season and year round, and to make the roads safe for our families, our citizens, and our visitors to Rutherford County,” he said.

In a press release, MADD spokeswoman Sony a Manfred said this is the time of the year when drunken driving crashes are most prevalent. She urged drivers to be extra vigilant about planning ahead for a safe way home when holiday festivities include alcohol.

For more information about the initiative, contact the Sheriff’s Office at 615-898-7770 or visit madd.org.