Traffic Safety

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not specify the exact fines for violations outside of work zones or school zones with flashers.

Traffic Safety Law Changes

This bill changes Tennessee's law about using wireless devices while driving to restrict holding or supporting these devices only in work zones with transportation workers present and school zones with warning flashers on.

What This Bill Does

• Limits the current rule that drivers cannot hold a phone or other device while driving, except in certain areas.
• Restricts the prohibition to when drivers are near construction workers or employees of the Tennessee Department of Transportation working in a work zone.
• Also restricts the prohibition to school zones where warning flashers are turned on.
• Keeps fines for breaking these rules: $200 if it happens in a restricted area, otherwise up to $50.

Who It Names or Affects

• Drivers who use wireless devices while driving
• Construction workers and transportation employees working in zones where drivers must follow the new rule

Terms To Know

Wireless telecommunications device

A mobile phone or similar handheld electronic communication device.

Work zone

An area on a road where construction, maintenance, or repair work is being done.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not change rules about texting or watching videos while driving.
• It only applies to physically holding devices; other uses like talking hands-free are still allowed outside restricted areas.

Official Summary Text

Present law prohibits a
person, while operating a motor vehicle on any road or highway in this state,
from physically holding or supporting
, with any part of the person's body, a
(i) stand-alone electronic device or
(i
i
)
w
ireless telecommuni
cations device
, excluding an
earpiece, headphone device, or device worn on a wrist
by an adult
to conduct a voice-based communication or
u
sing only one button on a wireless telecommunications device to initiate or terminate a voice communication
. This bil
l revises this provision to limit its application only to
a work zone when employees of the department of transportation or construction workers are present or in a marked school zone when a warning flasher or flashers are in operation.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 1408
By Hensley

HOUSE BILL 559
By Capley

HB0559
001962
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section
55-8-199, relative to use of a wireless
telecommunications device while operating a
motor vehicle.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-8-199(b)(1)(A), is amended by
deleting the language "Physically hold or support, with any part of the person's body," and
substituting instead the language "In a work zone when employees of the department of
transportation or construction workers are present or in a marked school zone when a warning
flasher or flashers are in operation, physically hold or support, with any part of the person's
body,".
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-8-199(c)(1), is amended by
deleting the subdivision and substituting instead:
(1)
(A) A violation of subdivision (b)(1)(A) is a Class C misdemeanor, subject
only to imposition of a fine of two hundred dollars ($200).
(B) A violation of subdivisions (b)(1)(B)–(b)(1)(E) is a Class C
misdemeanor, subject only to imposition of a fine not to exceed fifty dollars
($50.00). However, if the violation is the person's third or subsequent offense or
if the violation results in an accident, the fine is one hundred dollars ($100); or if
the violation occurs in a work zone when employees of the department of
transportation or construction workers are present or in a marked school zone

- 2 - 001962

when a warning flasher or flashers are in operation, the fine is two hundred
dollars ($200).
(C) Any person violating this section is subject to the imposition of court
costs not to exceed ten dollars ($10.00), including, but not limited to, any
statutory fees of officers. State and local litigation taxes are not applicable to a
case prosecuted under this section.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.