FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 21, 2026
CONTACT: ARRIALE TABSON
Mobile: 615-767-3242
Arriale.Tabson@tn.gov
TENNESSEE HIGHWAY SAFETY OFFICE LAUNCHES "OPERATION HANDS FREE" ON APRIL 28
Press Event and Distracted-Driving Enforcement Bus Tour Kicks Off in Kingsport
KINGSPORT, Tenn. – On Tuesday, April 28, the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) and Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP), divisions of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, are partnering with Washington County Sheriff's Office, Sullivan County Sheriff's Office, Johnson City Police Department, Kingsport Police Department, and other traffic safety partners for a press event to kick off “Operation Hands Free.” The purpose of this campaign is to crack down on violators of Tennessee’s HandsFree Law during National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Media is invited 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): tn.gov/safety/stats/dashboards/distracted-driver.html
WHAT: "Operation Hands Free" Bus Tour Event
WHEN: Tuesday, April 28, 2026
10 a.m. ET
WHERE: Kingsport Welcome Center (I-26, Exit 5)
5 Interstate I-26, Mile Marker 5, Kingsport, TN 37664
SPEAKERS: Armando Fontes – Law Enforcement Liaison, Tennessee Highway Safety Office
Chris Moore – Lieutenant, Tennessee Highway Patrol
Eric Dougherty – Chief, Johnson Cioty Police Department
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The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s mission is to serve, secure, and protect the people of Tennessee.
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.