FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 25, 2025
CONTACT: ARRIALE TABSON
Mobile: 615-767-3242
Arriale.Tabson@tn.gov
Media Advisory
TENNESSEE HIGHWAY SAFETY OFFICE LAUNCHES "OPERATION HANDS FREE" ON APRIL 1
Press Events and Distracted-Driving Enforcement Bus Tours Kick Off in Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga, Knoxville
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 HandsFreeTN.com. See here to access distracted-driving crash data provided by Tennessee’s Integrated Traffic Analysis Network (TITAN): 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 Joel.Brisson@tn.gov or 615-708-5004
Speakers:
Arriale Tabson – Public Information Officer, THSO
Adam English – General Manager/Chief Operating Officer, Nashville Sounds
Tennessee Highway Patrol
Tommy Widener, Deputy Chief, 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 Michael.Presson@tn.gov 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 Aaron.Loden@tn.gov 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 Armando.Fontes@tn.gov or 423-237-2197
Speakers:
Armando Fontes – Law Enforcement Liaison, THSO
Tennessee Highway Patrol
Tom Spangler – Sheriff, Knox County Sheriff’s Office
Tracy 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.
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The Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) is a division of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security advocating for traffic safety. The THSO works in tandem with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to implement statewide programs addressing occupant protection, impaired driving, speed enforcement, pedestrian and bicycle safety, and crash data collection and analysis. Programs administered by the THSO are 100 percent federally funded. The THSO’s mission is to effectively develop, implement, and evaluate these programs. To learn more, please visit www.tntrafficsafety.org.