TENNESSEE – On Tuesday, April 1, the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) and Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP), divisions of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, are partnering with Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), local law enforcement, and other traffic safety partners for “Operation Hands Free” to crack down on violators of Tennessee’s Hands-Free Law during National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. To kick off the campaign, the THSO will host press events in Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga, and Knoxville on April 1 at 10 a.m. (local time) immediately followed by enforcement bus tours. See below for event details to attend and ride along.

According to Tennessee’s Hands-Free Law (T.C.A. § 55-8-199), it is illegal for drivers to hold a cell phone or mobile device with any part of their body. Violation of this law can result in points on your driving record. Drivers can learn more at www.HandsFreeTN.com. See here to access distracted-driving crash data provided by Tennessee’s Integrated Traffic Analysis Network (TITAN): https://www.tn.gov/safety/stats/dashboards/distracted-driver.html.

PRESS EVENT SCHEDULE:

Date: Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Time: 10:00 a.m. (local time)

NASHVILLE

Location: Nashville Sounds Stadium, First Horizon Park, 19 Jr. Gilliam Way, Nashville, TN 37219

Contact: Joel Brisson at [email protected] or 615-708-5004

Speakers:

• Arriale Tabson – Public Information Officer, THSO
• Adam English – General Manager/Chief Operating Officer, Nashville Sounds
• Tennessee Highway Patrol
• Metro Nashville Police Department
• Megan Cooper – Public Relations & Government Affairs Consultant, AAA – The Auto Club Group
• Mayur B. Patel – Chief, Division of Acute Care Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

MEMPHIS

Location: Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Substation, 11670 Memphis Arlington Road, Arlington, TN 38002

Contact: Michael Presson at [email protected] or 615-209-1912

Speakers:

• Buddy Lewis – Director, THSO
• Tennessee Highway Patrol
• Derek Mills – Assistant Chief, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office
• Don Crowe – Assistant Chief, Memphis Police Department
• Jeff Cox – Chief, Bartlett Police Department
• Dale Lane – Chief, Collierville Police Department

CHATTANOOGA

Location: THP Chattanooga District 2 Headquarters, 4120 Cummings Highway, Chattanooga, TN 37419

Contact: Aaron Loden at [email protected] or 423-421-3696

Speakers:

• Jason Ivey – Deputy Director, THSO
• Tennessee Highway Patrol
• Austin Garrett – Sheriff, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office
• John Chambers – Chief, Chattanooga Police Department
• Regena Young – Trauma Outreach and Injury Prevention Coordinator, Erlanger Health System

KNOXVILLE

Location: THP Knoxville District 1 Headquarters, 1755 Neals Commerce Lane, Suite 1, Knoxville, TN 37914

Contact: Armando Fontes at [email protected] or 423-237-2197

Speakers:

• Armando Fontes – Law Enforcement Liaison, THSO
• Tennessee Highway Patrol
• Tom Spangler – Sheriff, Knox County Sheriff’s Office
• Tracie Hunter – Captain, Knoxville Police Department
• Brent Seymour – Public Safety Director, Knox County Mayor’s Office
• Stephanie Milani – Public Affairs Director, AAA – The Auto Club Group

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s mission is to serve, secure, and protect the people of Tennessee.