MPD Not Enforcing Texting Ban

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Memphis Police may not ticket you for texting while driving, but Tennessee State Troopers will.

The new state law banning the act went into effect July 1; however, since it is a state traffic ordinance and not a city traffic ordinance, Memphis Police will not write tickets for the violation.

According to Memphis Police Deputy Chief Joe Scott, "Texting While Driving is a state traffic misdemeanor and Memphis Police do not have a mechanism in place to write state traffic citations."

A citation for sending or reading text messages while driving comes with a $50 fine.