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Minors in Tennessee can now lose their driving privileges for bullying
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A new law just went into effect this week. Minors who are found guilty of bullying or cyberbullying in juvenile court can face consequences
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such as probation or counseling. And now a new consequence has been added
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The new Tennessee law says those teen drivers will also have their driver's license suspended
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or they'll lose the ability to get one for one year. First-time offenders would receive a second chance
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They could apply for a restricted driver's license to legally drive, but it would only be for limited purposes
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such as going to and from school, to and from work, and to and from church
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In order to receive a restricted driver's license, the teen driver would have to apply within 10 days of the court's ruling
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pay a $20 application fee, meet age requirements, and pass driving tests
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A judge would then have to sign off on the restricted driver's license, and the minor would not be allowed to drive to social gatherings
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The new law builds on Tennessee's efforts from last year when lawmakers clarified what counts as bullying and cyberbullying to better protect young people and help prevent violence and suicide
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According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2021 to 2022, about 19 percent of students ages 12 to 18 reported being bullied
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And then of that, 22 percent reported the bullying happened online or through text
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For Straight Arrow News, I'm Lauren Keenan. If you want more on this story, download the Straight Arrow News app or visit san.com
