CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Local law enforcement agencies conducted a bus tour operation on July 23 to increase awareness of the new Hands Free Tennessee Law.
Officers from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Clarksville Police Department and Tennessee Highway Patrol rode in an unmarked bus, observing traffic violations. Upon observing an infraction, the officers communicated with ground units, who initiated traffic stops. The operation’s primary focus was drivers using their cell phone while their vehicle was in motion.
“Our goal was to increase driver awareness of the new Hands Free Tennessee law,” said Sandra Brandon, Public Information Officer with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. “We want to remind drivers the slightest distraction from a cell phone could lead to a traffic crash that kills or injuries a pedestrian, construction worker, or fellow driver.”
Fifty-seven citations were issued for traffic violations, with seventeen warning citations issued for violation of the Hands Free Tennessee law.
The Hands Free Tennessee Law, which went into effect July 1, 2019, aims to reduce the number injuries and fatalities caused by distracted driving. Based on the new law drivers cannot hold a cellphone or mobile device with any part of their body, write, send or read any text-based communication, or watch or record a video on a mobile device while driving. Montgomery County has recorded over 8,100 crashes related to distracted driving in the past 10 years.