Many new laws will go into effect on July 1^st in Tennessee and the one getting the most attention is the “hands-free” cell phone law. After that date, motorists will be unable to hold their cellphone while operating a motor vehicle. A cellphone may be used while mounted or through a Blue Tooth device. AAA officials say that it is a good step towards curbing distractions, but it is not a “cure-all” for the problem. They say that it may give the driver a “sense of security”, but that is really a false sense because not having the phone in your hand does not mean that the phone is still not a distraction. AAA says that using your phone in any way while behind the wheel quadruples your chances of being involved in an accident. They report that 2018 statistics reveal that over 24,000 crashes took place within the state due to distracted drivers. Officers may begin enforcing the law after July 1^st. It is up to the officer or trooper whether to issue a warning or a citation.