Need to know (Nashville) TN's Do's & Don't's (appointed, how much)

[certaincircles]

A few yrs. ago I lived in Nashville for 4 months, but I had to leave due to family matters. Right now, I'm making plans to move back. I had re-visited for a few days & for the first time went to visit EAST Nashville. During the 4 months that I was living there Nashville has the Lake (Percy Priest), People & Environ. is laid back (I'm up North & Hate the Fast Pace Environ.), but I couldn't find other music besides Country. @ that time I when I visited East Nashville for the 1st time I was a little discouraged. I didn't see as much clubs that I expected it to be w/ NON Country Music. I only saw the 5 Spot & had visited just 2 times (saw a Americana artist & a Reggae Artist). One of the other clubs - I think it was Family Wash was closed so I went back home disappointed. I wanted to*have "the Lake" to go to when I'm Not Performing/Songwriting & Not Working, Working in the Nashville Metro area (North, East, South, West), & Performing/Songwriting. So I felt like I only had 2 out of my 3 Criteria fulfilled. So, while I was looking somewhere else (like Austin) I discovered or learned about an org. "No Country for New Nashville" which then turned me around.

Just this week (Sun. 17th- Wed. 20th) I found more clubs & spoke/networked w/ some musicians who knew about this "No Country..." thing. I got some #'s & names, etc. I went back to the "5 Spot", but I found out where the East Room & East Basement was. I found the East Room, but couldn't find the East Basement. The bartender @ the "5 Spot" told me they're practically down the block from each other on the same street. A couple days ago I drove to East Nashville. It was late @ night where no body was on the road. It was one of those nights where you would see 1 car drive down a road & in 4 mins. you would see another car. I drove down (forgot what street I don't know my way around EAST Nashville) 1 road w/ Completely NO ONE Driving Behind me. I figured let me just "sight see". I put my hazard lights on driving slowly looking @ my right to find The Basement. As I was doing this a cop's car comes up from behind so I pulled into 1 of those strip mall parking lots & he came out of his to ask me why my hazards were on. I told him that I was trying to find where the East Room & another club were at (I was nervous that I couldn't think). He asked me to come out of the car to have me do the "Sobriety Test". He asked me those walking heel to heel on a straight line & standing on 1 leg while pointing your other leg up in the air. I couldn't do these tasks & I WASN'T Drunk. Matter of fact, IF I Drank I would end up in the Hospital b/c a while back I had some very little wine & I ended up in the hospital he said "I have reason to believe that you drank alcohol or you're under some kind of other drugs" I told him that I DON'T Drink & I DON'T Do Drugs. (I take meds for my Diabetes, but they DON'T have any effects they DON'T make me drowsy). So, when he asked me if I took any meds. I told him I was & what it was for then he said "oh, so maybe that's where I'm seeing the problem & it's not alcohol) He then escorted me & put cuffs on & said something like you know I'm gonna have to have you take a blood test to see. I was EXTREMELY Scared. He took me to General Hospital & 1 of the nurses took my blood (it was like a 15-20min. test). Then he took me into the prison for booking. There I was fingerprinted, searched for weapons/drugs & had to wait in this room w/ other people. Then they called your name & brought you into this other waiting room. When I got there the officer @ the desk said that you could use the pay phone to call the Bond Person to bail you out.

My parents live in NYC so it's not like they can just hop on a plane straighten things out. I had the Bond Person call my parents as a 3 way Party Line. So, my parents paid for the bail & soon I was Released. The Bond Person accepted the $ & my mother asked for this to be Ecsponged so it wouldn't effect my employment & effect another job that I want to get into. Now when the Bond Person escorted me out he commented that I shouldn't have been arrested instead the officer could have handled it another way. He said that the officer was right for pulling me over b/c I was blocking traffic even tho' there wasn't any traffic*(He said that's a law in TN.), but he shouldn't have arrested you for that he should have just gave you a warning or a ticket, but Not arrest you. I seen so many people go thru the same thing. He said that some of these cops here are Blankety Blank (#*%^!#). Plus, when I told him that I did this in NYC & had Never Had a problem w/ cops. He said "NYC has Diff. Laws from TN. For example, I can walk along the bridge carrying a weapon Here, but I couldn't do that in NYC." So, NY & TN have diff. laws. Now, b/c of this I'm scared of MOVING to Nashville. I still LOVE Nashville's Percy Priest Lake, Music Job Opportunities*(During those 4 months I Did make some contacts), some areas (to live in) like Donelson & Hermitage AND of course, (my discovery of finding this) Underground Music Scene, but I don't want to be looking over my shoulder all the time making sure that I'm NOT Breaking any TN Driving Laws (when I told the Bond Person that I've done this - driven slow in a quiet street & never got arrested for doing it Nevertheless, I Never Had Any Issues w/ Cops HERE in NYC. Funny, being born & raised here in NYC you would Think that something like this would happen in a Major City like NYC.).

Anyway, I would Really Love to know Where I can find or read what the TN Traffic Laws. I want to ACCLIMATE to Nashville where I can call it my home where each time I go out I don't get into issues or get arrested from a cop. Or I want to be at ease w/out having to look over my shoulder every time I go out (drive around) worrying about if I'm gonna meet up w/ a cop who's an #*%^#* pulling me over & making a False Arrest. So,

What would I need to know so I don't get into this situation - or how I can Avoid cops who are #*%^#*?*

Would someone know where I can find or read what the TN Traffic Laws are (e.g. What's the diff. betw. TN Laws compared to NYC Laws)?


& Maybe some advice on living in Nashville w/out having to worry about getting falsely arrested & having to go to jail again??


What are the "Do's & Don't's" that I need to know in Nashville?

Please let me know. I'm REALLY UPSET about this & it's really effecting or scaring me to Move (BTW. Cops here in NYC LEAVE YOU ALONE. You would REALLY*Have to Be Obvious for you to get caught w/ something. Like an old friend of mine used to say "you don't bother them they don't bother you").

Thanks!

[artemis]

Driving around late at night, anywhere in Nashville, is not a good idea.

Also, carrying a weapon while you walk across the bridge is not legal, unless you have a carry permit.

[N.Cal]

Reading all of you posts, I don't think Nashville is the place for you.

[titanspreds_04]

Originally Posted by N.Cal

Reading all of you posts, I don't think Nashville is the place for you.

Agreed.

[douglas21]

Also agree.

[certaincircles]

N. Cal

I'm really offended of what you said. 1st off. You've been reading ALL my Posts??!! Well, I guess you have nothing else to do. Did you read the Post on me asking about the Music Scene (non country music)??!! B/c people have not only been encouraging on THAT Post, but No. You're WRONG!!

I Love Nashville. If I DIDN'T Like Nashville I would not have Wasted My Time asking Questions (NOT Complaining). I See myself there. When I've Lived there for 4 months I went to "Percy Priest Lake" (that's MY Lake - That's How much I love Nashville), I do see job opportunities AND someone from my College had connected me w/ a Pastor who has given me some ideas of jobs that I could look into. & LASTLY, I Finally Found my last piece of the puzzle. It's Living in a quiet neighborhood, Going to The Lake, Working in Teaching field, & Playing/Songwriting w/ Musicians in EAST Nashville. I already Have Networked w/ musicians who Know about the "No Country..." AND also the know about the "Underground Music Scene" & THEY have also been ENCOURAGING.

& So What?? About me trying to ACCLIMATE!!! I'm already a Laid Back person for example, I'll chit chat w/ someone while the time passes by while waiting for like a bus, etc. & people in Nashville that I've met are the same as me. There's Nothing wrong w/ Acclimating in a place you love. I Don't KNow ANYONE who hasn't Learned to Acclimate to a place that they CHOSE To Move to. While you're at looking @ All My Posts why don't you look at Other People's Posts where They're ASKING HOW They Can Acclimate to a city/town of their interest so I was Just ASKING about this "Do's & Don't's" Post.

You don't know me. You don't know my goals, etc. You're NOT my Coach Here in NYC who helped w/ me w/ My Vision in what I picture myself in 5 yrs. So, How Dare you say that Nashville IS NOT for me (BTW. I am into Middle Eastern/Indian music & Yet Nashville HAS some of that music & there are Arts-n-Edu. areas that I have some Contacts w/.). Maybe you shouldn't spend All your time Reading People's Posts & Judging them when You DON'T KNOW them!!

[DubbleT]

Haven't read any of your other posts (but now I am intrigued) but I am going to have to say all the bolding, and colors, and exclamation points, etc don't really make you come off as someone who is laid back.
What did they charge you with? Surely they didn't arrest you just for driving too slow, there has to be more to it than that.