Using Hand Held Cell Phones in School Zones Now Illegal

January 3, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOLS TO REMAIN CLOSED THURSDAY AND FRIDAY DUE TO COLD WEATHER

With schools set to re-open on Monday, January 8th, motorists in school zones should be aware that talking on a cell phone with the device in hand is now illegal in an active school zone.

That not only includes talking on a phone, but texting or reading texts

The law states that it’s an offense — Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $50 — for a person to knowingly operate a motor vehicle in any marked school zone in this state, when a warning flasher or flashers are in operation, and talk on a hand-held mobile telephone while the vehicle is in motion.

However, the offense is not committed if the telephone is equipped with a hands-free device, for drivers 18 years of age and older.

A driver under age 18 is breaking the law talking either using a hands-free or handheld while driving through an active school zone.

Also as school starts again, motorists should also remember that the most dangerous part of a school bus ride is getting on and off and if they don’t stop for buses when they’re supposed to the potential for a tragic accident increases.

Jimmy Sprague, Transportation Supervisor for the DeKalb County School System and the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) remind motorists of the importance of school bus safety awareness and education.

“Riding the school bus is one of the safest modes of transportation; it’s when children get on or off the bus that causes concern,” said THP Colonel Tracy Trott. “That is why it is critical for parents, teachers, and school administrators to stress the importance of crossing in view of the school bus driver, and to instruct children on other safety tips that will keep them out of harm’s way.”

Each day, some 480,000 school buses transport more than 26 million children to and from school and school related activities, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. An average of 19 school-age children die in school transportation-related traffic crashes each year – five occupants of school buses and 14 pedestrians. Most of those killed are children five to seven years old.

Sprague reminds motorists to make sure to stop when school bus lights and stop signs are deployed as students get off and on buses in school parking lot loading zones and on roads, including four lane highways. ” Highway 70 is considered a driveable median and when that bus accuates its stop sign and red lights, all four lanes east bound and west bound do have to stop. They don’t proceed on until the stop sign is pulled in and the lights are off and the bus is proceeding on. When that happens, vehicles can move along also,” said Sprague

The “danger zone” for a school bus is the area 10 feet around the vehicle; the two most dangerous places are the front and the right rear tire area of the bus. Children must take care when boarding or leaving the school bus by following these simple rules:
•Always remain in direct eyesight of the bus driver;
•Be alert to traffic. Check both ways before stepping off the bus;
•Make eye contact with the bus driver, and wait for the bus driver’s signal before crossing the street;
•Walk in front of the bus; never walk behind the bus to cross the street;
•Never go under the bus to retrieve something you’ve dropped;
•Get to the bus stop in plenty of time.

“Educating children on school bus safety is a top priority, but we also want to remind drivers to slow down in school zones and obey the stop arm,” said THP Colonel Trott. “Our troopers work diligently to enforce traffic laws in the school zone, and will penalize those who blatantly disregard laws designed to protect children.”

In Tennessee and in every state, drivers must stop when the stop arm is extended and red lights are flashing.

All school bus drivers in Tennessee must attend an annual training course in order to receive and maintain the school bus endorsement on their Driver License.

January 2, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

If you never completed high school and would like to obtain an equivalency diploma you have that opportunity.Free High School Equivalency (Hi-Set) Classes are held on Mondays and Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the County Complex at 722 South Congress Boulevard. Enter through the UT Extension/Motlow College Corridor, Room 119. Mary Anne Carpenter is the class instructor. On-line classes are also available.
Student registration is conducted on Mondays, beginning at 3:30 pm and then again on Tuesdays starting at 8:30 am – 12:00pm. The Toll Free phone number is: 855-516-0160.
Nearly 500,000 Tennesseans between the ages of 18 to 64 are without a high school diploma, according to the American Community Survey 5 year average. 31,015 of those reside in the Upper Cumberland region, and approximately 2,000 reside in DeKalb County alone. By 2022 the Tennessee Department of Labor estimates 32% of existing jobs and 39% of all new jobs will require some post-secondary education.
According to Paraprofessional Carol Pritchard, a focus on Adult Education saves money by reducing public assistance, health care and incarceration costs. Most importantly, adults are given the opportunity to improve their lives and better support their families. The Adult Education opportunities provided right here in Smithville are absolutely free and are designed to prepare students to successfully pass the HiSET®, general equivalency exam.
The General Educational Development (GED®) testing program was developed to give U.S. and Canadian citizens who have not graduated from high school the opportunity to demonstrate the level of achievement normally acquired through the completion of a traditional U.S./Canadian high school course of study. The current High School equivalency test, known as the HiSET®, covers five subject areas: Writing, social studies, science, reading, and math.
Benefits of Adult Education:
•Adult Education empowers individuals to become self-sufficient by providing the basic skills and knowledge necessary to complete a secondary education credential and works with individuals to help them meet their educational and career goals.
•Adult Education in Tennessee prepares students to be college and career ready, while earning a High School Equivalency Diploma. With a strong commitment to quality and efficient instruction that meets the needs of students, programs across the state help these students gain academic skills and credentials to transition to postsecondary education, be successful in the workplace, and contribute to their communities.
•Currently, a person with a high school credential earns about $10,000 annually more than a high school dropout. Individuals without a high school credential are more likely to be unemployed, three times as likely to live in poverty and eight times as likely to be incarcerated.
•Classes are available in every county across the state to enhance future employment opportunities and personal growth.
Process:
In order to enroll, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:
•Must be 18 years of age.
•Not enrolled or required to be enrolled in secondary school
•Do not have a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent
To begin, individuals will take the CASAS® (Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems) assessment to evaluate their reading, math, and language arts abilities. This will provide both the instructor and the student with an idea of where to best start the instructional process and insure that no valuable time is wasted between enrollment and successful completion of the program.
After completing some classroom instruction hours, students take another short CASAS® test to demonstrate academic gains and to allow the instructor and student to then work together in order to refine the learning process in order to prepare the student for the official practice test, or OPT. The goal is to assist the student to reach his/her goal in the shortest amount of time possible.
The Official Practice Test (OPT) has the same look and feel as the real High School Equivalency Test (HiSET®). The OPT allows the student to obtain firsthand experience answering questions written and developed by the HiSET® test creators. The results of the OPT indicate whether or not an individual is prepared for the HiSET®.
Finally, Governor Haslam and TN General Assembly have allocated funds to cover the cost of the official HiSET® exam. Individuals throughout the State of Tennessee can now enroll in classes and take the HiSET® in order to receive a high school equivalency diploma at no cost.

January 1, 2018
By: Dwayne Page

Sixteen new Tennessee State laws go into effect January 1, 2018. (CLICK LINK BELOW TO VEW NEW STATE LAWS)
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/legislation/publications/01-01-2018%20effective.pdf
Here are some that could impact you.
*Barbers will be allowed to cut your hair at home, as long as they have the right paperwork allowing them to. Until now, only sick customers could get at-home services under Tennessee law.
*You won’t be allowed to use your phone while driving through an active school zone. You could get slapped with a $50 fine if it’s not hands-free.
*New school bus drivers will be forced to take a training program before getting behind the wheel and must be at least 25-years-old.
*Homeowners can cancel alarm system contracts that are at least 2-years long if they give 30 days notice.
*The Alcoholic Beverage Commission won’t have permission to monitor marijuana, but will regulate serving alcohol in restaurants. They once had jurisdiction to enforce criminal offences involving marijuana.
*Your car headlights will have to be white, or amber. Other colors will be illegal.
*Members of the United States Armed Forces also won’t have to go though firing range training to get a handgun carry permit as long as they passed combat training.
*Disabled adults can pay personal aides to perform health maintenance tasks for them.
*The Board of Pharmacy can create a voluntary prescription drug donation repository. Drugs must be in its original packaging and must be inspected before they are dispensed by a licensed pharmacist.

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