03-24-2009, 10:15 PM
Tennessee attorney general: Law already bans texting while driving
By Richard Locker (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee legislature is considering a bill to ban texting while driving, but state Atty. Gen. Robert Cooper issued an opinion today that police already have the authority to cite a driver for participating in any distracting activity while operating a vehicle.
Cooper publicly released the advisory opinion today after legislators asked him whether the texting-while-driving bill is necessary.
Under existing state law, “an officer has the authority to issue a traffic citation to any driver who is operating a motor vehicle in an unsafe manner, regardless of whether such unsafe operation is caused by cell phone use, text messaging or any other activity that prevents the driver from exercising reasonable care in the operation of the vehicle,” Cooper wrote.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/200...-bans-tex/
By Richard Locker (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee legislature is considering a bill to ban texting while driving, but state Atty. Gen. Robert Cooper issued an opinion today that police already have the authority to cite a driver for participating in any distracting activity while operating a vehicle.
Cooper publicly released the advisory opinion today after legislators asked him whether the texting-while-driving bill is necessary.
Under existing state law, “an officer has the authority to issue a traffic citation to any driver who is operating a motor vehicle in an unsafe manner, regardless of whether such unsafe operation is caused by cell phone use, text messaging or any other activity that prevents the driver from exercising reasonable care in the operation of the vehicle,” Cooper wrote.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/200...-bans-tex/