Bullies Beware
Bullies in Tennessee might now need to think twice, at least if they’re of driving age, thanks to a new law that went into effect this week.
Under the new measure, those found guilty of bullying in juvenile court will, if old enough, automatically lose their driver’s license for a full year – an eternity at that age.
“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.”
An All Too Common Problem
To some, being bullied is a right of passage. But it has been linked to mental health issues – and even led to suicides — among the estimated one-third of American school children who’ve been bullied about various times, according to a report on MedicineNet.com.
The situation has been worsened by digital technologies, including cellphones and AI software capable of creating deepfake pictures and videos. A 2022 Pew Research study on cyberbullying indicating that “nearly half of U.S. teens have been bullied or harassed online, with physical appearance being seen as a relatively common reason why.”
Beating Back the Bullies
If bullying is an unwanted rite of passage for some, getting a driver’s license is something almost all teens long for. And that’s where the new Tennessee law is fighting back.
Tennessee lawmakers a year ago laid out a legal definition of what constitutes bullying. Now, they’ve given that definition teeth. Anyone convicted in juvenile court of a bullying offense occurring on or after July 1, 2025 will have their driver’s license suspended for a full year. If it’s a first offense, a bully can apply to get a restricted license – but it can only be used to school, work or religious services. Forget social events. And if you’re in an after-school program, including sports? Forget it. Catch the bus or get a ride with your parents or friends.
Will it Work?
“Taking away driving privileges will hopefully get the attention of bullies and deter them from being mean to others,” said State Rep. Russell.
Not everyone is convinced, however. It may only help with those bullies who are caught and prosecuted. And it doesn’t deal with bullies too young to drive, some skeptics warned. It’s going to take intervention long before that, suggested Scott Payne, a manager for Contact Care Line, a Knoxville-based social services organization, in an interview with Knoxville TV station WVLT. “Bullies aren’t just born. They don’t just pop up. They’re products of their environment. So we need to be talking with them and finding out what’s going on in their lives that’s bringing about this type of behavior from them.”