NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Bullying or cyberbullying could cost Tennessee teens their car keys for one year, thanks to a new state law recently signed by Gov. Bill Lee.

The legislation, which passed this year, will require a judge to suspend a minor's driving privileges or their ability to get their driver's license for one year if they're adjudicated for bullying or cyberbullying.

The bill's sponsors hope it prevents students from bullying in the first place.

"I think this is a deterrent," State Rep. Lowell Russell (R-Vonore) said. "A lot of kids nowadays want to get their license when they [turn] 16, and it's an incentive not to bully other people."

Under the new legislation, a judge can grant a restricted license to allow the minor to drive to school, work, and church if it's the student's first offense.

Rodger Dinwiddie, CEO of Students Taking A Right Stand (STARS) Nashville and a consultant in bullying prevention and intervention, told News 2 he's not sure if the new law will have much of an impact.

"Just removing the driver's license doesn't seem to me to really address some of the issues, because the majority of bullying that occurs, by the way, not necessarily at the high school level, particularly when kids are able to drive."

According to Dinwiddie, the highest rates of bullying occur in fourth, fifth, and eighth grades, when students aren't old enough to drive.

In addition, the law will require a judge to temporarily revoke a student's license, even if it's their first offense, which Dinwiddie argues is a harsh punishment.

However, he hopes the law will potentially act as a deterrent to prevent bullying.

"The bottom line is if it is truly bullying, it is extremely harmful, whether it is in person or online, and to me, the legislators get credit for at least being concerned about that issue for sure," Dinwiddie said.

Last year, lawmakers passed legislation formally defining bullying as an act that substantially interferes with another student's educational benefits, opportunities, or performance. It also expanded the offense of harassment to include bullying and cyberbullying, and started requiring law enforcement to notify the victim’s parents and/or guardians of the bullying situation at school if the victim is a minor.

The new law will go into effect July 1.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/tennessee-politics/teen-bullies-could-lose-driving-privileges-for-one-year-under-new-tennessee-law/