Could Bullying Cost You Your License? One State Says Yes

Being a teenager can certainly be hard. Some of our most beloved movies, books, music and TV shows portray the struggles that come with being a teen. It’s an age where there are plenty of new freedoms, but also new responsibilities and challenges that come with being on the cusp of adulthood. One common problem that has lasted for decades, if not centuries, is bullying. It’s common enough that horror movies have been made with bullying as a driving force behind the action. But now, Tennessee’s new bullying law includes revoking the offending teens’ driver’s licenses as part of their punishment. The hope is that by targeting teens’ new freedoms, bullying and cyberbullying will be less tempting.

What Is the New Law?

According to ABC News, as of July 1, 2025, teenagers who end up in juvenile court and are found guilty of bullying or cyberbullying will have their driver’s license suspended for one year. This is an expansion of legislation the state passed last year, also targeting bullying. Last year’s law looked to nail down the definitions of bullying and cyberbullying in an attempt to “help prevent violence and suicide among young people.”

Tennessee isn’t the only state to limit access to cars and driving in their punishments for bullying, but unlike Virginia’s anti-speeding law, the car in question doesn’t have to be directly involved in the incident for it to be included in the punishment. In this case, the vehicle is viewed as a privilege to be revoked rather than a tool that needs to be modified.

Are There Exemptions?

This bullying law revoking teens’ drivers’ licenses may sound good on paper, but there are some important factors to take into account, too. Some teens do need to drive places like school and work, so how would this law impact them?

There is a slight exception for these circumstances. According to ABC News, “teens can apply for a restricted license that allows them to drive to essential activities like school, work and church services.” However, the restricted license does not allow convicted teens to drive themselves to “social events or after-school activities. ”

Teens aren’t automatically granted a restricted license either. ABC News says that the process has to be initiated within 10 days of the court’s decision. It’s not free either; there’s a $20 application fee. Once that is paid, the teen in question must:

• meet age requirements
• pass all driving tests
• get approval from a judge, “who will specify exactly when and where they can drive.”

Source

Bullying in Tennessee now comes with a new penalty for teens: losing driving privileges, ABC News, July 1, 2025.

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