Tennessee state law says that texting while driving is illegal. That's only on paper. People really don't care. In a recent trip through Nashville, I was passed with literally dozens of drivers confidently texting. Even saw a woman in a new Mercedes happily texting with her right hand. In the past few weeks, I even say a nice sticker on a car that warned against texting and driving. Yep, the driver was texting! Tell me there's a law that makes texting while driving illegal. You would think there would be cars lined up along the shoulder of the highway texting away. Nope! Furthermore, it doesn't seem to matter for the police.
The State's website, Top Ten Traffic Safety Laws for TN Visitors , has texting as the number one law to know. Really! Go look at the address. Tennesseans don't obey the law, so why should visitors. The no texting law in Tennessee has no teeth. If you get a ticket for texting and driving, it is a maximum $60 fine and no points on your driver's license. I see it as useless! If you want to really stop people from texting behind the wheel, make it $1000 fine and 30 days in jail with increasing penalties for multiple offenses. The DUI law hasn't stopped drinking and driving with it's stiff penalties! How would you expect a wimpy no texting law to stop those with the criminal mentality to text!
Texting while driving is like Prohibition. It just doesn't work!
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