FILE - In this Dec. 3, 2014, file photo, New York Police Department Officer Joshua Jones wears a VieVu body camera on his chest during a news conference in New York. Police departments across the country are altering policies and procedures to assuage concerns about police conduct and to protect their own officers. In New York, they'll make greater use of stun guns; and body cameras are becoming more common in all departments. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File) Guns - where you can carry them, permit fees, what kinds you can own, etc. - will dominate discussion at the General Assembly this week. But there are several other measures that could spur debate if they come up in committee.
Fines for texting while driving, no seat belt
Right now, someone who is caught texting while driving faces a maximum fine of $50. Someone caught driving without a seat belt could receive a $10 ticket for the first offense and a $20 ticket for each additional offense. The fines for either transgression would jump to $250 if a bill from stat Sen. Jim Tracy, R-Shelbyville, and state Rep. Jon Lundberg, R-Bristol, becomes law. The bill is set for discussion at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Senate Transportation and Safety Committee.
Body cameras for law enforcement
All law enforcement officers would be required to wear wide-angle video cameras while on duty if a bill from Rep. Brenda Gilmore, D-Nashville, and Sen. Sara Kyle, D-Memphis, becomes law. Calls for such cameras have arisen in the wake of allegations of police brutality in Ferguson, Mo., New York City, Cleveland and other areas. The bill could face some hurdles - there are no GOP sponsors, and there's no exemption in the bill for undercover officers - but it's set for discussion at noon Wednesday in the House State Government Subcommittee.
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