Since its inception in November 2009, close to 3,000 young Chattanoogans have successfully completed the professional defensive driving curriculum and multimodal instruction provided by the city of Chattanooga’s Drivers Education Program. This acclaimed and popular program was possible due to the city’s decision to dedicate photo enforcement generated funds to the creation and administration of “public safety, traffic and safety education, engineering and enforcement programs”, i.e. Photo Enforcement Ordinance, Chattanooga City Code Sec. 24-273.
Due to a law enacted earlier this year by the Tennessee State Legislature (HB1096, HB1372 & SB1128), most unmanned speed enforcement cameras will no longer be allowed in the state. Therefore, these traffic safety programs will go unfunded, resulting in the suspension of the Driver's Education Program.
Given these circumstances, effective immediately, no new courses for the Chattanooga Drivers Education Program will be scheduled until further notice. Efforts will be made to identify new revenue sources so that this important traffic safety program can resume, said officials.