Tennessee House Votes Down Law Against Aggressive Driving

The Tennessee House has rejected a bill that would have made aggressive driving in the state against the law.

“One of the biggest problems on the roadway today is aggressive driving,” said Rep. Eric Swafford, R-Pikeville and the bill’s main sponsor. “Though (police) can cite people for reckless diving, there’s not something for aggressive driving.”

The bill failed when only 37 lawmakers voted in favor, while 54 voted against. Several lawmakers raised concerns that the measure would confuse the state’s existing law on reckless driving.

“I think we’re just laying another layer of big government on the people of Tennessee,” said House Democratic Caucus Chairman Mike Turner of Old Hickory.

Swafford’s bill would have made it a misdemeanor if drivers committed two driving violations such as passing on the right, failing to use a blinker or speeding while placing another person in danger of bodily harm.

The companion bill had stalled in the Senate Transportation Committee, which has closed for the year.

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Read HB0018 at: http://www.capitol.tn.gov