New Tennessee Law Will Suspend Driver's License Of Teens Found Guilty Of Bullying

Teens successful Tennessee tin suffer their saccharine 16 driving privileges if recovered blameworthy of bullying different children, per a caller rule successful nan state. The law, which took effect connected July 1, will let courts to revoke driver's licenses for up to a twelvemonth for teenagers caught bullying aliases cyberbullying different kids.

The measure, sponsored by Tennessee State Rep. Lowell Russell, R., was passed pinch important bipartisan support. The measure received praise from supporters arsenic a measurement successful nan correct guidance to combat bullying among teens. 

"Bullying tin origin semipermanent harm that results successful intelligence wellness problems later successful a person’s life. Most acts of unit and suicides are noted arsenic nan consequence of being bullied. I simply sewage tired of thing being done to extremity bullying," Russell had told CNN successful a statement.

TENNESSEE TEEN KILLS JIMSELF AFTER CLASSMATES OUT HIM AS BISEXUAL ON SOCIAL MEDIA, FAMILY SAYS

Russell besides said that he hoped for this caller measure to summation nan attraction of bullies and deter them from being "mean to others" successful nan future.

The driving restrictions will beryllium enforced by nan tribunal notifying nan Tennessee Department of Safety to forestall a driver’s licence being issued to anyone recovered blameworthy of bullying successful a tribunal of law. Additionally, if they are caught driving connected a suspended license, nan teenagers will beryllium astatine consequence of further penalties.

TENNESSEE STUDENT SUSPENDED AFTER VIRAL ANTI-BULLYING VIDEO HURTS FEELINGS OF PRINCIPAL AND TEACHERS

The measure, sponsored by Tennessee State Rep. Lowell Russell, was passed pinch important bipartisan support.  (iStock)

Despite nan caller restrictions, nan rule does let for immoderate elasticity for first-time offenders. If revoked, teens tin use for a restricted licence that allows them to still commute to basal activities specified arsenic schoolhouse aliases work. However, nan restricted licence does not see driving to after-school extracurricular activities aliases societal events.

In bid for teens to unafraid these driving privileges, they must use for them wrong 10 days of nan tribunal determination and salary a $20 exertion fee.

This caller rule is simply a continuation of nan effort by Tennessee lawmakers to combat nan issues of bullying and suicides among young people. The caller penalties will only beryllium applicable to bullying incidents that hap aft nan July 1st. 

Teens successful Tennessee tin suffer their saccharine 16 driving privileges if recovered blameworthy of bullying different children, per a caller rule successful nan state.  (Photo by: Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"I would for illustration to see, going forward, activity towards moving pinch nan bullies," said Scott Payne, a head for Contact Care Line, a Knoxville-based societal services organization. 

"Bullies aren’t conscionable born. They don’t conscionable popular up. They’re products of their environment. So we request to beryllium talking pinch them and uncovering retired what’s going connected successful their lives that’s bringing astir this type of behaviour from them," Payne told WVLT.