Texting While Driving in Tennessee: Banned Beginning July 1

Tennessee Texting while Driving Ban Goes Into Effect (Added: June 30, 2009)

Starting July 1, state patrol officers can ticket drivers who text message while their vehicle is in motion. (more)

0 Ratings | 1075 Video Views

Texting While Driving in Tennessee: Banned Beginning July 1

Jimmy Thompson's family friend was killed Saturday while she was texting and driving. She was seventeen. He plans to make sure his own soon-to-be driving teenagers pay attention on the road.

By: Dana Wachter | TriCities.com
Published: June 30, 2009

Washington Co., Tenn. -- A new Tennessee driving law may be a disappointment to people addicted to text messaging, but it's a preventative measure to help keep streets safer.
The law was sponsored by Bristol Republican Congressman Jon Lunburg, and Tennessee state legislatures passed the law in April. Governor Bredesen signed it by mid-May.
The ban goes into effect tomorrow, July 1.
It is a misdemeanor offense, where officers can pull a car over just for texting while driving. The fine can be no more than fifty dollars, and no more than ten dollars of court fees. No points will be attributed to the driver's license.
Public service members, as in, police, EMS, fire fighters, EMA workers, campus police officers, are still allowed to text while driving, as long as they are using it as part of their job responsibility.
Local patrol officers will be briefed on the ban and its stipulations within the week. People can expect warnings for a short time period, as the community gets used to the new law.