A Tennessee attorney general opinion says sending or reading texts while driving falls under a law prohibiting the unsafe operation of a motor vehicle.
Rep. Vince Dean, an East Ridge Republican and chairman of the House Public Safety Subcommittee, requested the opinion after hearing proposed legislation that would fine a person $50 for such behavior while driving.
The Senate sponsor of that legislation says he just wants to strengthen the current law.
However, the opinion says an officer already has the authority to cite a driver “whenever unsafe operation is caused by cell phone use, text messaging, applying cosmetics or any other activity that prevents the driver from operating the vehicle in a safe manner.”
The proposal passed the Senate Transportation Committee earlier this month.
Topics Personal Auto Tennessee
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
AI Savings Misses ‘Should Be Making Executives Uncomfortable,’ Bain Says 
USI Insurance Services Claims Ex-Broker Poached Clients for Own New Agency 
Helicopter Crash in Georgia Kills Groom, Pilot, Hours After Huge Wedding Celebration 
Insurance Mogul Lindberg Gets 12 Years for $2 Billion Fraud 
