As of Monday, July 1, 2019, drivers will be ticketed if they are seen with a cell phone in their hands while driving.

Tennessee lawmakers have already issued a law that prohibits young drivers from talking on the phone, and the state bans texting while driving. The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security partnered with tourist development and transportation to create The Hands-Free Campaign. It is meant to educate all drivers on what exactly the new bill entails.

The purpose of the campaign is to eliminate distracted driving fatalities and injuries. According to the state, there were over 24,000 crashes involving a distracted driver, which rank Tennessee as having the highest rate of distracted driving deaths.

This bill includes most cell phone use such as phone calls, texting, music, and navigation.

Drivers may not support or hold their mobile device with any part of their body. They cannot send any texts or even reach for their device if it requires them to not be in a seated driving position. It is illegal to watch, record, or broadcast videos while driving. A driver can still use their device for streaming as long as the driver does not touch the phone to activate the program while they are driving.

There are some exceptions to this newly passed bill. Touching your phone while it’s mounted is permitted, and you may use your navigation only if you manage to not physically support it. If your device is mounted, you may use it by touching it only once or just for a swipe. It cannot be used to take pictures, browse social media, or play games. If your car is not moving, you can still use your device regularly.

Citations will be issued up to $200 for holding or supporting their phone while driving. The first violation will be a minimum of $50. If the violation results in a wreck, it will increase. However, if the violation continues in a work zone while workers are present or even in a school zone during school hours, the fine jumps to $200. Each time a driver is caught, three points will be added to their license. Once they reach a total of 12 points, it will be suspended.

Hands-free devices like headphones, earpieces, dash-board mounts, devices worn on wrist, and other bluetooth devices are legal.

First responders and law enforcement are excluded from this bill. Emergency phone calls are all allowed.