Traffic Safety

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide specific details on enforcement mechanisms or penalties outside of work zones and school zones with flashing warning lights.

Traffic Safety Law Changes

This bill changes Tennessee's law about using wireless devices while driving to limit when drivers can't hold or support these devices with their body only in work zones and school zones.

What This Bill Does

• Changes the current rule that prohibits physically holding or supporting a wireless telecommunications device or stand-alone electronic device while operating a motor vehicle, except in certain areas like marked school zones with flashing warning lights or work zones where construction workers are present.
• Keeps restrictions on activities such as texting or watching videos on your phone while driving.

Who It Names or Affects

• Drivers who use wireless telecommunications devices while operating a motor vehicle
• Construction workers and employees of the Department of Transportation

Terms To Know

Class C misdemeanor

A minor crime that can result in a fine but not jail time.

Work zone

An area where road construction or maintenance is happening.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if the violation occurs outside of work zones and school zones.
• It's unclear how this change will be enforced by law enforcement officers.

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

HOUSE BILL 559
By Capley

SENATE BILL 1408
By Hensley

SB1408
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.