Bullies in Tennessee to lose driving licence
Bullies in the US state of Tennessee could see their driving license taken for a year if found guilty in a juvenile court, under a new law. “Most acts of violence or suicides are results of being bullied,” State Representative Lowell Russell wrote on Facebook. “I sponsored this bill in hopes to prevent children from being bullied and in hopes to prevent tragic events.”
Bullying has been linked to mental health issues and has even eld to suicide in some cases. It is estimated that a third of school children in the US have been bullied, according to a report on MedicineNet.com. Digital technology, such as mobile phones, as well as AI software capable of making deepfake pictures, audio, and video, have made the problem worse. A Pew Research study in 2022 on cyberbullying found that “nearly half of U.S. teens have been bullied or harassed online, with physical appearance being seen as a relatively common reason why.”
Getting a driving license is seen as a rite of for passage for many young people, especially in the US where a car can be essential to get around. That is what the new Tennessee law is using in a bid to combat bullying.
Lawmakers in the state laid out a legal definition a year ago for what constitutes bullying. Now, anyone convicted in a juvenile court of a bullying offence after 1st July 2025 will have their license suspended for a full year. If it is a first offence, bullies can apply to get a restricted license, meaning that they can only drive to school, work, or religious services.
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