Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-8-101 — TN Code / Title 55 / Chapter 8 / Section 55-8-101
Chapter and part definitions
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter and chapter 10, parts 1-5, of this title, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "All-terrain vehicle" means either: (A) A motorized nonhighway tire vehicle with no less than four (4) nonhighway tires, but no more than six (6) nonhighway tires, that is limited in total dry weight to less than two thousand five hundred pounds (2,500 lbs.), and that has a seat or saddle designed to be straddled by the operator and handlebars for steering control; or (B) A motorized vehicle designed for or capable of cross-country travel on or immediately over land, water, snow, or other natural terrain and not intended for use on public roads traveling on two (2) wheels and having a seat or saddle designed to be straddled by the operator and handlebars for steering control; (2) "Arterial street" means any United States or state numbered route, controlled access highway, or other major radial or circumferential street or highway designed by local authorities within their respective jurisdictions as part of a major arterial system of streets or highways; (3) (A) "Authorized emergency vehicle" means vehicles of the fire department, fire patrol, police vehicles or bicycles and emergency vehicles that are designated or authorized by the commissioner or the chief of police of an incorporated city, and vehicles operated by commissioned members of the Tennessee bureau of investigation when on official business; (B) "Authorized emergency vehicle in certain counties" means vehicles owned by regular or volunteer firefighters in any county with a population of not less than thirty-two thousand seven hundred fifty (32,750) nor more than thirty-two thousand eight hundred (32,800), according to the 1980 federal census or any subsequent federal census, when the vehicles are used in responding to a fire alarm or other emergency call; (C) (i) "Authorized emergency vehicle" automatically includes every ambulance and emergency medical vehicle operated by any emergency medical service licensed by the department of health pursuant to title 68, chapter 140, part 3; and, notwithstanding any law to the contrary, regulation of these ambulances and emergency medical vehicles shall be exclusively performed by the department of health, except as provided in § 68-140-326 , and no special authorization, approval or filing shall be required pursuant to this chapter by the commissioner of safety; (ii) "Authorized emergency vehicle" automatically includes every rescue vehicle or emergency response vehicle owned and operated by a state-chartered rescue squad, emergency lifesaving crew or active member unit of the Tennessee Association of Rescue Squads and no special authorization, approval or filing shall be required for the vehicle pursuant to this chapter by the commissioner of safety; (4) "Autocycle" has the same meaning as defined in § 55-1-103 ; (5) "Automated driving system" or "ADS" means technology installed on a motor vehicle that has the capability to drive the vehicle on which the technology is installed in high or full automation mode, without any supervision by a human operator, with specific driving mode performance by the automated driving system of all aspects of the dynamic driving task that can be managed by a human driver, including the ability to automatically bring the motor vehicle into a minimal risk condition in the event of a critical vehicle or system failure or other emergency event; (6) "Automated-driving-system-operated vehicle" or "ADS-operated vehicle" means a vehicle equipped with an automated driving system; (7) "Bicycle" means every device propelled by human power upon which any person may ride, having two (2) tandem wheels, either of which is more than twenty inches (20") in diameter; (8) "Bus" means every motor vehicle designed for carrying more than ten (10) passengers and used for the transportation of persons, and every motor vehicle, other than a taxicab, designed and used for the transportation of persons for compensation; (9) "Business district" means the territory contiguous to and including a highway when within any six hundred feet (600') along the highway there are buildings in use for business or industrial purposes, including, but not limited to, hotels, banks, or office buildings, railroad stations and public buildings that occupy at least three hundred feet (300') of frontage on one (1) side or three hundred feet (300') collectively on both sides of the highway; (10) "Certified police cyclist" means any full time, sworn law enforcement officer who is certified by the International Police Mountain Bike Association or has otherwise been certified by the Tennessee peace officer standards and training commission as having received and successfully completed appropriate bicycle training in the performance of law enforcement functions; (11) "Chauffeur" means every person who is employed by another for the principal purpose of driving a motor vehicle and every person who drives a school bus transporting school children or any motor vehicle when in use for the transportation of persons or property for compensation; (12) "Class I off-highway vehicle" means a motorized vehicle with not less than four (4) nonhighway tires, nor more than six (6) nonhighway tires, whose top speed is greater than thirty-five miles per hour (35 mph), that is limited in total dry weight up to three thousand five hundred pounds (3,500 lbs.), that is eighty inches (80") or less in width measured from the outside of the tire rim to the outside of the tire rim, and that has a nonstraddle seating capable of holding at least two (2) but no more than four (4) passengers and a steering wheel. "Class I off-highway vehicle" includes mini-trucks; (13) "Class II off-highway vehicle" means any off-highway vehicle that is designed to be primarily used for recreational purposes, that has a nonstraddle seating capable of holding at least two (2) but no more than four (4) passengers and a steering wheel, and that is commonly referred to as a sand buggy, dune buggy, rock crawler, or sand rail. "Class II off-highway vehicle" does not include a snowmobile or other vehicle designed to travel exclusively over snow or ice; (14) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of safety; (15) "Controlled-access highway" means every highway, street or roadway in respect to which owners or occupants of abutting lands and other persons have no legal right of access to or from the same, except at such points only and in such manner as may be determined by the public authority having jurisdiction over the highway, street or roadway; (16) "Crosswalk" means: (A) That part of a roadway at an intersection included within the connections of the lateral lines of the sidewalks on opposite sides of the highway measured from the curbs or, in the absence of curbs, from the edges of the traversable roadway; or (B) Any portion of a roadway at an intersection or elsewhere distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface; (17) "Dealer" means every person engaged in the business of buying, selling or exchanging vehicles of a type required to be registered and who has an established place of business for that purpose in this state; (18) "Department" means the department of safety; (19) "Driver" means: (A) For purposes of a conventionally operated vehicle, every person who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle; and (B) For purposes of an ADS-operated vehicle and when the context requires, the ADS when the ADS is engaged; (20) "Dynamic driving task" means all of the real-time operational and tactical functions required to operate a vehicle in on-road traffic. "Dynamic driving task" does not include strategic functions, such as route selection and scheduling; (21) (A) "Electric scooter": (i) Means a device weighing less than one hundred pounds (100 lbs.) that: (a) Has handlebars and an electric motor; (b) Is solely powered by the electric motor or human power, or both; and (c) Has a maximum speed of no more than twenty miles per hour (20 mph) on a paved level surface when powered solely by the electric motor; and (ii) Does not include an electric bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, motorcycle, or motorscooter; and (B) An electric scooter is a motor-driven vehicle, for purposes of § 55-10-401 ; (22) "Essential parts" means all integral and body parts of a vehicle of a type required to be registered, the removal, alteration or substitution of which would tend to conceal the identity of the vehicle or substantially alter its appearance, model, type or mode of operation; (23) "Established place of business" means the place actually occupied either continuously or at regular periods by a dealer or manufacturer where the books and records are kept and a large share of the business is transacted; (24) "Explosives" means any chemical compound or mechanical mixture that is commonly used or intended for the purpose of producing an explosion and that contains any oxidizing and combustive units or other ingredients in those proportions, quantities or packing that an ignition by fire, by friction, by concussion, by percussion or by detonator of any part of the compound or mixture may cause such a sudden generation of highly heated gases that the resultant gaseous pressures are capable of producing destructive effects on contiguous objects or of destroying life or limb; (25) "Farm tractor" means every motor vehicle designed and used primarily as a farm implement for drawing plows, mowing machines and other implements of husbandry; (26) "Flammable liquid" means any liquid that has a flash point of seventy degrees Fahrenheit (70° F.), or less, as determined by a tagliabue or equivalent closed-cup test device; (27) "Foreign vehicle" means every vehicle of a type required to be registered brought into this state from another state, territory or country other than in the ordinary course of business by or through a manufacturer or dealer and not registered in this state; (28) "Golf cart" means a motor vehicle that is designed and manufactured for operation on a golf course for sporting or recreational purposes and equipped with safety belts installed for use in the left front and right front seats and that is not capable of exceeding speeds of twenty miles per hour (20 mph); (29) "Gross weight" means the weight of a vehicle without load plus the weight of any load thereon; (30) "Highway" means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way when any part thereto is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel; (31) "Implement of husbandry" means every vehicle that is designed for agricultural purposes and exclusively used by the owner thereof in the conduct of the owner's agricultural operations; (32) "Intersection" means: (A) The area embraced within the prolongation or connection of the lateral curb lines, or, if none, then the lateral boundary lines of the roadways of two (2) highways that join one another at, or approximately at, right angles, or the areas within which vehicles traveling upon different highways joining at any other angle may come in conflict; or (B) Where a highway includes two (2) roadways thirty feet (30') or more apart, then every crossing of each roadway of that divided highway by an intersecting highway shall be regarded as a separate intersection. In the event the intersecting highway also includes two (2) roadways thirty feet (30') or more apart, then every crossing of two (2) roadways of such highways shall be regarded as a separate intersection; (33) "Laned roadway" means a roadway which is divided into two (2) or more clearly marked lanes for vehicular traffic; (34) "License to operate a vehicle" means any operator's or chauffeur's license, or any other license or permit to operate a motor vehicle issued under the laws of this state including: (A) Any temporary license or instruction permit; (B) The privilege of any person to drive a motor vehicle whether or not that person holds a valid license; and (C) Any nonresident's operating privilege as defined in this section; (35) "Local authorities" means every county, municipal and other local board or body having authority to enact ordinances or make regulations relating to traffic under the constitution and laws of this state; (36) "Low speed vehicle" means any four-wheeled electric vehicle, excluding golf carts, whose top speed is greater than twenty miles per hour (20 mph) but not greater than twenty-five miles per hour (25 mph), including neighborhood vehicles. Low speed vehicles must comply with the safety standards in 49 CFR 571.500 ; (37) "Manufacturer" means every person engaged in the business of constructing or assembling vehicles of a type required to be registered at an established place of business in this state; (38) "Medium speed vehicle" means any four-wheeled electric or gasoline-powered vehicle, excluding golf carts, whose top speed is greater than thirty miles per hour (30 mph), but whose maximum speed allowed is thirty-five miles per hour (35 mph) only on streets with a forty mile per hour (40 mph) or less posted speed limit pursuant to § 55-8-191(b)(1) , and otherwise meets or exceeds the federal safety standards set forth in 49 CFR 571.500 , except as otherwise provided in § 55-4-136 ; (39) "Metal tire" means every tire the surface of which in contact with the highway is wholly or partly of metal or other hard, nonresilient material; (40) "Minimal risk condition" means a low-risk operating mode in which an ADS-operated vehicle when the ADS is engaged achieves a reasonably safe state upon experiencing a failure of the vehicle's ADS that renders the vehicle unable to perform the entire dynamic driving task; (41) "Motor vehicle": (A) Means every vehicle that is self-propelled; (B) Includes low-speed vehicles and medium-speed vehicles; and (C) Does not include: (i) Electric scooters; (ii) Electric bicycles, as defined in § 55-8-301 ; (iii) Motorized bicycles; (iv) Personal delivery devices; (v) Motorized wheelchairs; or (vi) Any vehicle, including a low-speed vehicle or a medium-speed vehicle, that is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires but not operated upon rails; (42) "Motorcycle" has the same meaning in § 55-1-103 ; (43) "Motorscooter" means any two- or three-wheel automatic transmission vehicle with a motor that produces no more than thirty (30) brake horsepower, a motor with a cylinder capacity not exceeding three hundred cubic centimeters (300cc) or an electric motor not to exceed five thousand watts (5,000W), a wheelbase not to exceed sixty-four inches (64"), and a maximum dry weight of four hundred fifty pounds (450 lbs.). "Motorscooter" does not include an electric scooter or personal delivery device; (44) "Motorized bicycle" means a vehicle with two (2) or three (3) wheels, an automatic transmission, and a motor with a cylinder capacity not exceeding fifty cubic centimeters (50cc) which produces no more than two (2) brake horsepower and is capable of propelling the vehicle at a maximum design speed of no more than thirty miles per hour (30 mph) on level ground. The operator of a motorized bicycle must be in possession of a valid operator's or chauffeur's license, and shall be subject to all applicable and practical rules of the road. A motorized bicycle may not be operated on a highway of the interstate and defense highway system, any similar limited access multilane divided highway, or upon sidewalks; (45) "Off-highway vehicle" or "off-highway motor vehicle" means any vehicle designed primarily to be operated off public highways, including any Class I off-highway vehicle, Class II off-highway vehicle, all-terrain vehicle, any motorcycle commonly referred to as a dirt bike, or any snowmobile or other vehicle designed to travel exclusively over snow or ice; (46) "Official traffic-control devices" means all signs, signals, markings and devices not inconsistent with this chapter and chapter 10, parts 1-5 of this title placed or erected by authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction for the purpose of regulating, warning or guiding traffic; (47) "Operator" means: (A) For purposes of a conventionally operated vehicle, every person, other than a chauffeur, who drives or is in actual physical control of a motor vehicle upon a highway or who is exercising control over or steering a vehicle being towed by a motor vehicle; and (B) For purposes of an ADS-operated vehicle and when the context requires, the ADS when the ADS is engaged; (48) "Owner" means a person who holds the legal title of a vehicle, or in the event a vehicle is the subject of an agreement for the conditional sale or lease thereof, with the right of purchase upon performance of the conditions stated in the agreement and with an immediate right of possession vested in the conditional vendee or lessee, or in the event a mortgagor of a vehicle is entitled to possession, then the conditional vendee or lessee or mortgagor shall be deemed the owner for the purpose of this chapter and chapter 10, parts 1-5 of this title; (49) "Park," when prohibited, means the standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading; (50) "Pedestrian" means any person afoot or using a motorized or non-motorized wheelchair; (51) "Pedestrian area" includes a sidewalk, crosswalk, school crosswalk, school crossing zone, or safety zone; (52) "Person" means a natural person, firm, copartnership, association, corporation, or an engaged ADS; (53) "Personal delivery device" means a device that: (A) Is solely powered by an electric motor; (B) Is operated primarily on sidewalks and crosswalks; (C) Is intended primarily for the transport of property on public rights-of-way; and (D) Is capable of navigating with or without the active control or monitoring of a natural person; (54) "Personal delivery device operator" means an entity that exercises physical control or monitoring over the navigation system and operation of a personal delivery device; (55) "Platoon" means a group of individual motor vehicles that are traveling in a unified manner at electronically coordinated speeds; (56) "Pneumatic tire" means every tire in which compressed air is designed to support the load; (57) "Pole trailer" means every vehicle without motive power designed to be driven by another vehicle and attached to the towing vehicle by means of a reach or pole, or by being boomed or otherwise secured to the towing vehicle, and ordinarily used for transporting long or irregularly shaped loads, such as poles, pipes or structural members capable, generally, of sustaining themselves as beams between the supporting connections; (58) "Police officer" means every officer authorized to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for violations of traffic regulations; (59) "Private road or driveway" means every way or place in private ownership and used for vehicular travel by the owner and those having express or implied permission from the owner, but not by other persons; (60) "Railroad" means a carrier of persons or property upon cars, other than streetcars, operated upon stationary rails; (61) "Railroad sign or signal" means any sign, signal or device erected by authority of a public body or official or by a railroad and intended to give notice of the presence of railroad tracks or the approach of a railroad train; (62) "Railroad train" means a steam engine, electric or other motor, with or without cars coupled thereto, operated upon rails, except streetcars; (63) "Recovered materials" and "recyclable materials" have the same meanings as defined in § 68-211-802 ; (64) "Recycling vehicle" means any vehicle that is designed and used exclusively for the collection or transportation of recovered materials or recyclable materials; (65) "Residential district" means the territory contiguous to and including a highway not comprising a business district when the property on the highway for a distance of three hundred feet (300') or more is in the main improved with residences; (66) "Right-of-way" means the privilege of the immediate use of the roadway; (67) "Road tractor" means every motor vehicle designed and used for drawing other vehicles and not so constructed as to carry any load thereon either independently or any part of the weight of a vehicle or load so drawn; (68) "Roadway" means that portion of a highway improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the berm or shoulder. In the event a highway includes two (2) or more separate roadways, "roadway" refers to any such roadway separately but not to all such roadways collectively; (69) "Safety zone" means the area or space officially set apart within a roadway for the exclusive use of pedestrians and that is protected or is so marked or indicated by adequate signs as to be plainly visible at all times while set apart as a safety zone; (70) "School bus" means every motor vehicle owned by a public or governmental agency and operated for the transportation of children to or from school or privately owned and operated for compensation for the transportation of children to or from school; (71) "Semitrailer" means every vehicle with or without motive power, other than a pole trailer, designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that some part of its weight and that of its load rests upon or is carried by another vehicle; (72) "Sidewalk" means that portion of a street between the curb lines, or the lateral lines of a roadway, and the adjacent property lines, intended for use of pedestrians; (73) "Solid tire" means every tire of rubber or other resilient material which does not depend upon compressed air for the support of the load; (74) "Solid waste vehicle" means any vehicle engaged in the collecting and transporting of municipal solid waste as defined by § 68-211-802 , or recyclable materials as defined by § 68-211-802 ; (75) "Special mobile equipment" means every vehicle not designed or used primarily for the transportation of persons or property and incidentally operated or moved over the highways, including farm tractors, road construction or maintenance machinery, ditch-digging apparatus, well-boring apparatus and concrete mixers. The foregoing enumeration shall be deemed partial and shall not operate to exclude other vehicles that are within the general terms of this subdivision (75); (76) "Specially constructed vehicle" means every vehicle of a type required to be registered not originally constructed under a distinctive name, make, model or type by a generally recognized manufacturer of vehicles and not materially altered from its original construction; (77) "Stop," when required, means complete cessation from movement; (78) "Stop line" means a white line placed generally in conformance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), as adopted by the department of transportation, denoting the point where an intersection begins; (79) "Stopping" or "standing," when prohibited, means any stopping or standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic-control sign or signal; (80) "Street" means the entire width between boundary lines of every way when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel; (81) "Streetcar" means a car other than a railroad train for transporting persons or property and operated upon rails principally within a municipality; (82) "Through highway" means every highway or portion of the highway at the entrance to which vehicular traffic from intersecting highways is required by law to stop before entering or crossing the same and when stop signs are erected as provided in this chapter. The department of transportation shall be authorized to designate through highways; (83) "Trackless trolley coach" means every motor vehicle that is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires but not operated upon rails; (84) "Tractor" means any self-propelled vehicle designed or used as a traveling power plant or for drawing other vehicles, but having no provision for carrying loads independently; (85) "Traffic" means pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, streetcars and other conveyances either singly or together while using any highway for purposes of travel; (86) "Traffic-control signal" means any device, whether manually, electrically or mechanically operated, by which traffic is alternately directed to stop and to proceed; (87) "Trailer" means every vehicle with or without motive power, other than a pole trailer, designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that no part of its weight rests upon the towing vehicle; (88) "Truck" means every motor vehicle designed, used or maintained primarily for the transportation of property; (89) "Truck tractor" means every motor vehicle designed and used primarily for drawing other vehicles and not so constructed as to carry a load other than a part of the weight of the vehicle and load so drawn; (90) "Urban district" means the territory contiguous to and including any street that is built up with structures devoted to business, industry or dwelling houses situated at intervals of less than one hundred feet (100') for a distance of one-quarter (1/4) mile or more; and (91) "Vehicle" means every device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, excepting devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks. Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 100, s 2, eff. 7/1/2024. Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 100, s 1, eff. 7/1/2024. Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 103, s 1, eff. 4/7/2021. Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 56, s 1, eff. 3/29/2021. Amended by 2020 Tenn. Acts, ch. 685, Secs.s 2, s 3, s 4 eff. 7/1/2020. Amended by 2019 Tenn. Acts, ch. 388, Secs.s 3, s 4 eff. 7/1/2019. Amended by 2019 Tenn. Acts, ch. 388, s 2, eff. 7/1/2019. Amended by 2019 Tenn. Acts, ch. 155, s 1, eff. 4/18/2019. Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 585, s 2, eff. 7/1/2018. Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 585, s 1, eff. 7/1/2018. Amended by 2017 Tenn. Acts, ch. 474, Secs.s 2, s 3 eff. 6/6/2017. Amended by 2017 Tenn. Acts, ch. 171, s 2, eff. 4/24/2017. Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 790, s 2, eff. 1/1/2017. Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1015, Secs.s 8, s 15 eff. 7/1/2016. Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 982, s 2, eff. 7/1/2016. Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 823, s 9, eff. 7/1/2016. Amended by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 871, s 4, eff. 7/1/2014. Acts 1955, ch. 329, § 1; 1957, ch. 209, § 3; 1959, ch. 34, § 1; 1977, ch. 428, §§ 1-4; 1979, ch. 247, § 6; T.C.A., § 59-801; Acts 1980, ch. 597, § 1; 1982, ch. 850, § 1; 1983, ch. 22, § 2; 1985, ch. 138, § 1; 1986, ch. 804, § 3; 1988, ch. 555, § 1; 1992, ch. 559, § 1; 1992, ch. 784, § 1; 1995, ch. 140, §§ 1, 2; 1996, ch. 620, §§ 1, 2; 1997 , ch. 37, § 1; 2000, ch. 606, § 1; 2002, ch. 747, §§ 5, 6; 2006, ch. 731, § 1; 2008 , ch. 780, § 1; 2008 , ch. 959, §§ 4, 5; 2008 , ch. 1144, § 2; 2010 , ch. 628, § 2; 2011 , ch. 383, § 2; 2011 , ch. 425, § 6.
As used in this chapter and chapter 10, parts 1-5, of this title, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) "All-terrain vehicle" means either: (A) A motorized nonhighway tire vehicle with no less than four (4) nonhighway tires, but no more than six (6) nonhighway tires, that is limited in total dry weight to less than two thousand five hundred pounds (2,500 lbs.), and that has a seat or saddle designed to be straddled by the operator and handlebars for steering control; or (B) A motorized vehicle designed for or capable of cross-country travel on or immediately over land, water, snow, or other natural terrain and not intended for use on public roads traveling on two (2) wheels and having a seat or saddle designed to be straddled by the operator and handlebars for steering control;
(A) A motorized nonhighway tire vehicle with no less than four (4) nonhighway tires, but no more than six (6) nonhighway tires, that is limited in total dry weight to less than two thousand five hundred pounds (2,500 lbs.), and that has a seat or saddle designed to be straddled by the operator and handlebars for steering control; or
(B) A motorized vehicle designed for or capable of cross-country travel on or immediately over land, water, snow, or other natural terrain and not intended for use on public roads traveling on two (2) wheels and having a seat or saddle designed to be straddled by the operator and handlebars for steering control;
(2) "Arterial street" means any United States or state numbered route, controlled access highway, or other major radial or circumferential street or highway designed by local authorities within their respective jurisdictions as part of a major arterial system of streets or highways;
(3) (A) "Authorized emergency vehicle" means vehicles of the fire department, fire patrol, police vehicles or bicycles and emergency vehicles that are designated or authorized by the commissioner or the chief of police of an incorporated city, and vehicles operated by commissioned members of the Tennessee bureau of investigation when on official business; (B) "Authorized emergency vehicle in certain counties" means vehicles owned by regular or volunteer firefighters in any county with a population of not less than thirty-two thousand seven hundred fifty (32,750) nor more than thirty-two thousand eight hundred (32,800), according to the 1980 federal census or any subsequent federal census, when the vehicles are used in responding to a fire alarm or other emergency call; (C) (i) "Authorized emergency vehicle" automatically includes every ambulance and emergency medical vehicle operated by any emergency medical service licensed by the department of health pursuant to title 68, chapter 140, part 3; and, notwithstanding any law to the contrary, regulation of these ambulances and emergency medical vehicles shall be exclusively performed by the department of health, except as provided in § 68-140-326 , and no special authorization, approval or filing shall be required pursuant to this chapter by the commissioner of safety; (ii) "Authorized emergency vehicle" automatically includes every rescue vehicle or emergency response vehicle owned and operated by a state-chartered rescue squad, emergency lifesaving crew or active member unit of the Tennessee Association of Rescue Squads and no special authorization, approval or filing shall be required for the vehicle pursuant to this chapter by the commissioner of safety;
(A) "Authorized emergency vehicle" means vehicles of the fire department, fire patrol, police vehicles or bicycles and emergency vehicles that are designated or authorized by the commissioner or the chief of police of an incorporated city, and vehicles operated by commissioned members of the Tennessee bureau of investigation when on official business;
(B) "Authorized emergency vehicle in certain counties" means vehicles owned by regular or volunteer firefighters in any county with a population of not less than thirty-two thousand seven hundred fifty (32,750) nor more than thirty-two thousand eight hundred (32,800), according to the 1980 federal census or any subsequent federal census, when the vehicles are used in responding to a fire alarm or other emergency call;
(C) (i) "Authorized emergency vehicle" automatically includes every ambulance and emergency medical vehicle operated by any emergency medical service licensed by the department of health pursuant to title 68, chapter 140, part 3; and, notwithstanding any law to the contrary, regulation of these ambulances and emergency medical vehicles shall be exclusively performed by the department of health, except as provided in § 68-140-326 , and no special authorization, approval or filing shall be required pursuant to this chapter by the commissioner of safety; (ii) "Authorized emergency vehicle" automatically includes every rescue vehicle or emergency response vehicle owned and operated by a state-chartered rescue squad, emergency lifesaving crew or active member unit of the Tennessee Association of Rescue Squads and no special authorization, approval or filing shall be required for the vehicle pursuant to this chapter by the commissioner of safety;
(i) "Authorized emergency vehicle" automatically includes every ambulance and emergency medical vehicle operated by any emergency medical service licensed by the department of health pursuant to title 68, chapter 140, part 3; and, notwithstanding any law to the contrary, regulation of these ambulances and emergency medical vehicles shall be exclusively performed by the department of health, except as provided in § 68-140-326 , and no special authorization, approval or filing shall be required pursuant to this chapter by the commissioner of safety;
(ii) "Authorized emergency vehicle" automatically includes every rescue vehicle or emergency response vehicle owned and operated by a state-chartered rescue squad, emergency lifesaving crew or active member unit of the Tennessee Association of Rescue Squads and no special authorization, approval or filing shall be required for the vehicle pursuant to this chapter by the commissioner of safety;
(4) "Autocycle" has the same meaning as defined in § 55-1-103 ;
(5) "Automated driving system" or "ADS" means technology installed on a motor vehicle that has the capability to drive the vehicle on which the technology is installed in high or full automation mode, without any supervision by a human operator, with specific driving mode performance by the automated driving system of all aspects of the dynamic driving task that can be managed by a human driver, including the ability to automatically bring the motor vehicle into a minimal risk condition in the event of a critical vehicle or system failure or other emergency event;
(6) "Automated-driving-system-operated vehicle" or "ADS-operated vehicle" means a vehicle equipped with an automated driving system;
(7) "Bicycle" means every device propelled by human power upon which any person may ride, having two (2) tandem wheels, either of which is more than twenty inches (20") in diameter;
(8) "Bus" means every motor vehicle designed for carrying more than ten (10) passengers and used for the transportation of persons, and every motor vehicle, other than a taxicab, designed and used for the transportation of persons for compensation;
(9) "Business district" means the territory contiguous to and including a highway when within any six hundred feet (600') along the highway there are buildings in use for business or industrial purposes, including, but not limited to, hotels, banks, or office buildings, railroad stations and public buildings that occupy at least three hundred feet (300') of frontage on one (1) side or three hundred feet (300') collectively on both sides of the highway;
(10) "Certified police cyclist" means any full time, sworn law enforcement officer who is certified by the International Police Mountain Bike Association or has otherwise been certified by the Tennessee peace officer standards and training commission as having received and successfully completed appropriate bicycle training in the performance of law enforcement functions;
(11) "Chauffeur" means every person who is employed by another for the principal purpose of driving a motor vehicle and every person who drives a school bus transporting school children or any motor vehicle when in use for the transportation of persons or property for compensation;
(12) "Class I off-highway vehicle" means a motorized vehicle with not less than four (4) nonhighway tires, nor more than six (6) nonhighway tires, whose top speed is greater than thirty-five miles per hour (35 mph), that is limited in total dry weight up to three thousand five hundred pounds (3,500 lbs.), that is eighty inches (80") or less in width measured from the outside of the tire rim to the outside of the tire rim, and that has a nonstraddle seating capable of holding at least two (2) but no more than four (4) passengers and a steering wheel. "Class I off-highway vehicle" includes mini-trucks;
(13) "Class II off-highway vehicle" means any off-highway vehicle that is designed to be primarily used for recreational purposes, that has a nonstraddle seating capable of holding at least two (2) but no more than four (4) passengers and a steering wheel, and that is commonly referred to as a sand buggy, dune buggy, rock crawler, or sand rail. "Class II off-highway vehicle" does not include a snowmobile or other vehicle designed to travel exclusively over snow or ice;
(14) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of safety;
(15) "Controlled-access highway" means every highway, street or roadway in respect to which owners or occupants of abutting lands and other persons have no legal right of access to or from the same, except at such points only and in such manner as may be determined by the public authority having jurisdiction over the highway, street or roadway;
(16) "Crosswalk" means: (A) That part of a roadway at an intersection included within the connections of the lateral lines of the sidewalks on opposite sides of the highway measured from the curbs or, in the absence of curbs, from the edges of the traversable roadway; or (B) Any portion of a roadway at an intersection or elsewhere distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface;
(A) That part of a roadway at an intersection included within the connections of the lateral lines of the sidewalks on opposite sides of the highway measured from the curbs or, in the absence of curbs, from the edges of the traversable roadway; or
(B) Any portion of a roadway at an intersection or elsewhere distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface;
(17) "Dealer" means every person engaged in the business of buying, selling or exchanging vehicles of a type required to be registered and who has an established place of business for that purpose in this state;
(18) "Department" means the department of safety;
(19) "Driver" means: (A) For purposes of a conventionally operated vehicle, every person who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle; and (B) For purposes of an ADS-operated vehicle and when the context requires, the ADS when the ADS is engaged;
(A) For purposes of a conventionally operated vehicle, every person who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle; and
(B) For purposes of an ADS-operated vehicle and when the context requires, the ADS when the ADS is engaged;
(20) "Dynamic driving task" means all of the real-time operational and tactical functions required to operate a vehicle in on-road traffic. "Dynamic driving task" does not include strategic functions, such as route selection and scheduling;
(21) (A) "Electric scooter": (i) Means a device weighing less than one hundred pounds (100 lbs.) that: (a) Has handlebars and an electric motor; (b) Is solely powered by the electric motor or human power, or both; and (c) Has a maximum speed of no more than twenty miles per hour (20 mph) on a paved level surface when powered solely by the electric motor; and (ii) Does not include an electric bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, motorcycle, or motorscooter; and (B) An electric scooter is a motor-driven vehicle, for purposes of § 55-10-401 ;
(A) "Electric scooter": (i) Means a device weighing less than one hundred pounds (100 lbs.) that: (a) Has handlebars and an electric motor; (b) Is solely powered by the electric motor or human power, or both; and (c) Has a maximum speed of no more than twenty miles per hour (20 mph) on a paved level surface when powered solely by the electric motor; and (ii) Does not include an electric bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, motorcycle, or motorscooter; and
(i) Means a device weighing less than one hundred pounds (100 lbs.) that: (a) Has handlebars and an electric motor; (b) Is solely powered by the electric motor or human power, or both; and (c) Has a maximum speed of no more than twenty miles per hour (20 mph) on a paved level surface when powered solely by the electric motor; and
(a) Has handlebars and an electric motor;
(b) Is solely powered by the electric motor or human power, or both; and
(c) Has a maximum speed of no more than twenty miles per hour (20 mph) on a paved level surface when powered solely by the electric motor; and
(ii) Does not include an electric bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, motorcycle, or motorscooter; and
(B) An electric scooter is a motor-driven vehicle, for purposes of § 55-10-401 ;
(22) "Essential parts" means all integral and body parts of a vehicle of a type required to be registered, the removal, alteration or substitution of which would tend to conceal the identity of the vehicle or substantially alter its appearance, model, type or mode of operation;
(23) "Established place of business" means the place actually occupied either continuously or at regular periods by a dealer or manufacturer where the books and records are kept and a large share of the business is transacted;
(24) "Explosives" means any chemical compound or mechanical mixture that is commonly used or intended for the purpose of producing an explosion and that contains any oxidizing and combustive units or other ingredients in those proportions, quantities or packing that an ignition by fire, by friction, by concussion, by percussion or by detonator of any part of the compound or mixture may cause such a sudden generation of highly heated gases that the resultant gaseous pressures are capable of producing destructive effects on contiguous objects or of destroying life or limb;
(25) "Farm tractor" means every motor vehicle designed and used primarily as a farm implement for drawing plows, mowing machines and other implements of husbandry;
(26) "Flammable liquid" means any liquid that has a flash point of seventy degrees Fahrenheit (70° F.), or less, as determined by a tagliabue or equivalent closed-cup test device;
(27) "Foreign vehicle" means every vehicle of a type required to be registered brought into this state from another state, territory or country other than in the ordinary course of business by or through a manufacturer or dealer and not registered in this state;
(28) "Golf cart" means a motor vehicle that is designed and manufactured for operation on a golf course for sporting or recreational purposes and equipped with safety belts installed for use in the left front and right front seats and that is not capable of exceeding speeds of twenty miles per hour (20 mph);
(29) "Gross weight" means the weight of a vehicle without load plus the weight of any load thereon;
(30) "Highway" means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way when any part thereto is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel;
(31) "Implement of husbandry" means every vehicle that is designed for agricultural purposes and exclusively used by the owner thereof in the conduct of the owner's agricultural operations;
(32) "Intersection" means: (A) The area embraced within the prolongation or connection of the lateral curb lines, or, if none, then the lateral boundary lines of the roadways of two (2) highways that join one another at, or approximately at, right angles, or the areas within which vehicles traveling upon different highways joining at any other angle may come in conflict; or (B) Where a highway includes two (2) roadways thirty feet (30') or more apart, then every crossing of each roadway of that divided highway by an intersecting highway shall be regarded as a separate intersection. In the event the intersecting highway also includes two (2) roadways thirty feet (30') or more apart, then every crossing of two (2) roadways of such highways shall be regarded as a separate intersection;
(A) The area embraced within the prolongation or connection of the lateral curb lines, or, if none, then the lateral boundary lines of the roadways of two (2) highways that join one another at, or approximately at, right angles, or the areas within which vehicles traveling upon different highways joining at any other angle may come in conflict; or
(B) Where a highway includes two (2) roadways thirty feet (30') or more apart, then every crossing of each roadway of that divided highway by an intersecting highway shall be regarded as a separate intersection. In the event the intersecting highway also includes two (2) roadways thirty feet (30') or more apart, then every crossing of two (2) roadways of such highways shall be regarded as a separate intersection;
(33) "Laned roadway" means a roadway which is divided into two (2) or more clearly marked lanes for vehicular traffic;
(34) "License to operate a vehicle" means any operator's or chauffeur's license, or any other license or permit to operate a motor vehicle issued under the laws of this state including: (A) Any temporary license or instruction permit; (B) The privilege of any person to drive a motor vehicle whether or not that person holds a valid license; and (C) Any nonresident's operating privilege as defined in this section;
(A) Any temporary license or instruction permit;
(B) The privilege of any person to drive a motor vehicle whether or not that person holds a valid license; and
(C) Any nonresident's operating privilege as defined in this section;
(35) "Local authorities" means every county, municipal and other local board or body having authority to enact ordinances or make regulations relating to traffic under the constitution and laws of this state;
(36) "Low speed vehicle" means any four-wheeled electric vehicle, excluding golf carts, whose top speed is greater than twenty miles per hour (20 mph) but not greater than twenty-five miles per hour (25 mph), including neighborhood vehicles. Low speed vehicles must comply with the safety standards in 49 CFR 571.500 ;
(37) "Manufacturer" means every person engaged in the business of constructing or assembling vehicles of a type required to be registered at an established place of business in this state;
(38) "Medium speed vehicle" means any four-wheeled electric or gasoline-powered vehicle, excluding golf carts, whose top speed is greater than thirty miles per hour (30 mph), but whose maximum speed allowed is thirty-five miles per hour (35 mph) only on streets with a forty mile per hour (40 mph) or less posted speed limit pursuant to § 55-8-191(b)(1) , and otherwise meets or exceeds the federal safety standards set forth in 49 CFR 571.500 , except as otherwise provided in § 55-4-136 ;
(39) "Metal tire" means every tire the surface of which in contact with the highway is wholly or partly of metal or other hard, nonresilient material;
(40) "Minimal risk condition" means a low-risk operating mode in which an ADS-operated vehicle when the ADS is engaged achieves a reasonably safe state upon experiencing a failure of the vehicle's ADS that renders the vehicle unable to perform the entire dynamic driving task;
(41) "Motor vehicle": (A) Means every vehicle that is self-propelled; (B) Includes low-speed vehicles and medium-speed vehicles; and (C) Does not include: (i) Electric scooters; (ii) Electric bicycles, as defined in § 55-8-301 ; (iii) Motorized bicycles; (iv) Personal delivery devices; (v) Motorized wheelchairs; or (vi) Any vehicle, including a low-speed vehicle or a medium-speed vehicle, that is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires but not operated upon rails;
(A) Means every vehicle that is self-propelled;
(B) Includes low-speed vehicles and medium-speed vehicles; and
(C) Does not include: (i) Electric scooters; (ii) Electric bicycles, as defined in § 55-8-301 ; (iii) Motorized bicycles; (iv) Personal delivery devices; (v) Motorized wheelchairs; or (vi) Any vehicle, including a low-speed vehicle or a medium-speed vehicle, that is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires but not operated upon rails;
(i) Electric scooters;
(ii) Electric bicycles, as defined in § 55-8-301 ;
(iii) Motorized bicycles;
(iv) Personal delivery devices;
(v) Motorized wheelchairs; or
(vi) Any vehicle, including a low-speed vehicle or a medium-speed vehicle, that is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires but not operated upon rails;
(42) "Motorcycle" has the same meaning in § 55-1-103 ;
(43) "Motorscooter" means any two- or three-wheel automatic transmission vehicle with a motor that produces no more than thirty (30) brake horsepower, a motor with a cylinder capacity not exceeding three hundred cubic centimeters (300cc) or an electric motor not to exceed five thousand watts (5,000W), a wheelbase not to exceed sixty-four inches (64"), and a maximum dry weight of four hundred fifty pounds (450 lbs.). "Motorscooter" does not include an electric scooter or personal delivery device;
(44) "Motorized bicycle" means a vehicle with two (2) or three (3) wheels, an automatic transmission, and a motor with a cylinder capacity not exceeding fifty cubic centimeters (50cc) which produces no more than two (2) brake horsepower and is capable of propelling the vehicle at a maximum design speed of no more than thirty miles per hour (30 mph) on level ground. The operator of a motorized bicycle must be in possession of a valid operator's or chauffeur's license, and shall be subject to all applicable and practical rules of the road. A motorized bicycle may not be operated on a highway of the interstate and defense highway system, any similar limited access multilane divided highway, or upon sidewalks;
(45) "Off-highway vehicle" or "off-highway motor vehicle" means any vehicle designed primarily to be operated off public highways, including any Class I off-highway vehicle, Class II off-highway vehicle, all-terrain vehicle, any motorcycle commonly referred to as a dirt bike, or any snowmobile or other vehicle designed to travel exclusively over snow or ice;
(46) "Official traffic-control devices" means all signs, signals, markings and devices not inconsistent with this chapter and chapter 10, parts 1-5 of this title placed or erected by authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction for the purpose of regulating, warning or guiding traffic;
(47) "Operator" means: (A) For purposes of a conventionally operated vehicle, every person, other than a chauffeur, who drives or is in actual physical control of a motor vehicle upon a highway or who is exercising control over or steering a vehicle being towed by a motor vehicle; and (B) For purposes of an ADS-operated vehicle and when the context requires, the ADS when the ADS is engaged;
(A) For purposes of a conventionally operated vehicle, every person, other than a chauffeur, who drives or is in actual physical control of a motor vehicle upon a highway or who is exercising control over or steering a vehicle being towed by a motor vehicle; and
(B) For purposes of an ADS-operated vehicle and when the context requires, the ADS when the ADS is engaged;
(48) "Owner" means a person who holds the legal title of a vehicle, or in the event a vehicle is the subject of an agreement for the conditional sale or lease thereof, with the right of purchase upon performance of the conditions stated in the agreement and with an immediate right of possession vested in the conditional vendee or lessee, or in the event a mortgagor of a vehicle is entitled to possession, then the conditional vendee or lessee or mortgagor shall be deemed the owner for the purpose of this chapter and chapter 10, parts 1-5 of this title;
(49) "Park," when prohibited, means the standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading;
(50) "Pedestrian" means any person afoot or using a motorized or non-motorized wheelchair;
(51) "Pedestrian area" includes a sidewalk, crosswalk, school crosswalk, school crossing zone, or safety zone;
(52) "Person" means a natural person, firm, copartnership, association, corporation, or an engaged ADS;
(53) "Personal delivery device" means a device that: (A) Is solely powered by an electric motor; (B) Is operated primarily on sidewalks and crosswalks; (C) Is intended primarily for the transport of property on public rights-of-way; and (D) Is capable of navigating with or without the active control or monitoring of a natural person;
(A) Is solely powered by an electric motor;
(B) Is operated primarily on sidewalks and crosswalks;
(C) Is intended primarily for the transport of property on public rights-of-way; and
(D) Is capable of navigating with or without the active control or monitoring of a natural person;
(54) "Personal delivery device operator" means an entity that exercises physical control or monitoring over the navigation system and operation of a personal delivery device;
(55) "Platoon" means a group of individual motor vehicles that are traveling in a unified manner at electronically coordinated speeds;
(56) "Pneumatic tire" means every tire in which compressed air is designed to support the load;
(57) "Pole trailer" means every vehicle without motive power designed to be driven by another vehicle and attached to the towing vehicle by means of a reach or pole, or by being boomed or otherwise secured to the towing vehicle, and ordinarily used for transporting long or irregularly shaped loads, such as poles, pipes or structural members capable, generally, of sustaining themselves as beams between the supporting connections;
(58) "Police officer" means every officer authorized to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for violations of traffic regulations;
(59) "Private road or driveway" means every way or place in private ownership and used for vehicular travel by the owner and those having express or implied permission from the owner, but not by other persons;
(60) "Railroad" means a carrier of persons or property upon cars, other than streetcars, operated upon stationary rails;
(61) "Railroad sign or signal" means any sign, signal or device erected by authority of a public body or official or by a railroad and intended to give notice of the presence of railroad tracks or the approach of a railroad train;
(62) "Railroad train" means a steam engine, electric or other motor, with or without cars coupled thereto, operated upon rails, except streetcars;
(63) "Recovered materials" and "recyclable materials" have the same meanings as defined in § 68-211-802 ;
(64) "Recycling vehicle" means any vehicle that is designed and used exclusively for the collection or transportation of recovered materials or recyclable materials;
(65) "Residential district" means the territory contiguous to and including a highway not comprising a business district when the property on the highway for a distance of three hundred feet (300') or more is in the main improved with residences;
(66) "Right-of-way" means the privilege of the immediate use of the roadway;
(67) "Road tractor" means every motor vehicle designed and used for drawing other vehicles and not so constructed as to carry any load thereon either independently or any part of the weight of a vehicle or load so drawn;
(68) "Roadway" means that portion of a highway improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the berm or shoulder. In the event a highway includes two (2) or more separate roadways, "roadway" refers to any such roadway separately but not to all such roadways collectively;
(69) "Safety zone" means the area or space officially set apart within a roadway for the exclusive use of pedestrians and that is protected or is so marked or indicated by adequate signs as to be plainly visible at all times while set apart as a safety zone;
(70) "School bus" means every motor vehicle owned by a public or governmental agency and operated for the transportation of children to or from school or privately owned and operated for compensation for the transportation of children to or from school;
(71) "Semitrailer" means every vehicle with or without motive power, other than a pole trailer, designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that some part of its weight and that of its load rests upon or is carried by another vehicle;
(72) "Sidewalk" means that portion of a street between the curb lines, or the lateral lines of a roadway, and the adjacent property lines, intended for use of pedestrians;
(73) "Solid tire" means every tire of rubber or other resilient material which does not depend upon compressed air for the support of the load;
(74) "Solid waste vehicle" means any vehicle engaged in the collecting and transporting of municipal solid waste as defined by § 68-211-802 , or recyclable materials as defined by § 68-211-802 ;
(75) "Special mobile equipment" means every vehicle not designed or used primarily for the transportation of persons or property and incidentally operated or moved over the highways, including farm tractors, road construction or maintenance machinery, ditch-digging apparatus, well-boring apparatus and concrete mixers. The foregoing enumeration shall be deemed partial and shall not operate to exclude other vehicles that are within the general terms of this subdivision (75);
(76) "Specially constructed vehicle" means every vehicle of a type required to be registered not originally constructed under a distinctive name, make, model or type by a generally recognized manufacturer of vehicles and not materially altered from its original construction;
(77) "Stop," when required, means complete cessation from movement;
(78) "Stop line" means a white line placed generally in conformance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), as adopted by the department of transportation, denoting the point where an intersection begins;
(79) "Stopping" or "standing," when prohibited, means any stopping or standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic-control sign or signal;
(80) "Street" means the entire width between boundary lines of every way when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel;
(81) "Streetcar" means a car other than a railroad train for transporting persons or property and operated upon rails principally within a municipality;
(82) "Through highway" means every highway or portion of the highway at the entrance to which vehicular traffic from intersecting highways is required by law to stop before entering or crossing the same and when stop signs are erected as provided in this chapter. The department of transportation shall be authorized to designate through highways;
(83) "Trackless trolley coach" means every motor vehicle that is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires but not operated upon rails;
(84) "Tractor" means any self-propelled vehicle designed or used as a traveling power plant or for drawing other vehicles, but having no provision for carrying loads independently;
(85) "Traffic" means pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, streetcars and other conveyances either singly or together while using any highway for purposes of travel;
(86) "Traffic-control signal" means any device, whether manually, electrically or mechanically operated, by which traffic is alternately directed to stop and to proceed;
(87) "Trailer" means every vehicle with or without motive power, other than a pole trailer, designed for carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and so constructed that no part of its weight rests upon the towing vehicle;
(88) "Truck" means every motor vehicle designed, used or maintained primarily for the transportation of property;
(89) "Truck tractor" means every motor vehicle designed and used primarily for drawing other vehicles and not so constructed as to carry a load other than a part of the weight of the vehicle and load so drawn;
(90) "Urban district" means the territory contiguous to and including any street that is built up with structures devoted to business, industry or dwelling houses situated at intervals of less than one hundred feet (100') for a distance of one-quarter (1/4) mile or more; and
(91) "Vehicle" means every device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, excepting devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 100, s 2, eff. 7/1/2024.
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 100, s 1, eff. 7/1/2024.
Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 103, s 1, eff. 4/7/2021.
Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 56, s 1, eff. 3/29/2021.
Amended by 2020 Tenn. Acts, ch. 685, Secs.s 2, s 3, s 4 eff. 7/1/2020.
Amended by 2019 Tenn. Acts, ch. 388, Secs.s 3, s 4 eff. 7/1/2019.
Amended by 2019 Tenn. Acts, ch. 388, s 2, eff. 7/1/2019.
Amended by 2019 Tenn. Acts, ch. 155, s 1, eff. 4/18/2019.
Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 585, s 2, eff. 7/1/2018.
Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 585, s 1, eff. 7/1/2018.
Amended by 2017 Tenn. Acts, ch. 474, Secs.s 2, s 3 eff. 6/6/2017.
Amended by 2017 Tenn. Acts, ch. 171, s 2, eff. 4/24/2017.
Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 790, s 2, eff. 1/1/2017.
Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1015, Secs.s 8, s 15 eff. 7/1/2016.
Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 982, s 2, eff. 7/1/2016.
Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 823, s 9, eff. 7/1/2016.
Amended by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 871, s 4, eff. 7/1/2014.
Acts 1955, ch. 329, § 1; 1957, ch. 209, § 3; 1959, ch. 34, § 1; 1977, ch. 428, §§ 1-4; 1979, ch. 247, § 6; T.C.A., § 59-801; Acts 1980, ch. 597, § 1; 1982, ch. 850, § 1; 1983, ch. 22, § 2; 1985, ch. 138, § 1; 1986, ch. 804, § 3; 1988, ch. 555, § 1; 1992, ch. 559, § 1; 1992, ch. 784, § 1; 1995, ch. 140, §§ 1, 2; 1996, ch. 620, §§ 1, 2; 1997 , ch. 37, § 1; 2000, ch. 606, § 1; 2002, ch. 747, §§ 5, 6; 2006, ch. 731, § 1; 2008 , ch. 780, § 1; 2008 , ch. 959, §§ 4, 5; 2008 , ch. 1144, § 2; 2010 , ch. 628, § 2; 2011 , ch. 383, § 2; 2011 , ch. 425, § 6.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-4-244 — TN Code / Title 55 / Chapter 4 / Section 55-4-244
University of Arkansas alumnus
Status: in_force

(a) An owner or lessee of a motor vehicle who is a resident of this state, upon complying with state motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles, and paying the regular fee applicable to the motor vehicle and the fee provided for in § 55-4-204 , shall be issued a University of Arkansas collegiate license plate for a motor vehicle authorized by § 55-4-210(c) . (b) The collegiate plates provided for in this section shall be of the colors and contain the logo of the University of Arkansas. Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1023,s 49, eff. 7/1/2018. Acts 1998, ch. 1063, § 1.
(a) An owner or lessee of a motor vehicle who is a resident of this state, upon complying with state motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles, and paying the regular fee applicable to the motor vehicle and the fee provided for in § 55-4-204 , shall be issued a University of Arkansas collegiate license plate for a motor vehicle authorized by § 55-4-210(c) .
(b) The collegiate plates provided for in this section shall be of the colors and contain the logo of the University of Arkansas.
Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1023,s 49, eff. 7/1/2018.
Acts 1998, ch. 1063, § 1.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-4-212 — TN Code / Title 55 / Chapter 4 / Section 55-4-212
Miscellaneous provisions
Status: in_force

(a) This subsection (a) shall apply to the issuance and renewal of the cultural, specialty earmarked and new specialty earmarked plates authorized by this part, unless the section authorizing the issuance of an individual plate specifically provides otherwise: (1) The plates enumerated in this subsection (a) shall be issued in conformity with § 55-4-203 ; (2) The plates shall contain the logo, emblem, insignia, or other distinctive design of the agency, organization, purpose or other entity which is being honored or recognized by the issuance of that specific plate; (3) The plates shall be designed in consultation with the commissioner and the department's vehicle services director, in addition to any other person or entity designated to be consulted relative to the design of the plate in the section authorizing an individual plate; (4) The plates shall include: (A) A unique identifying number not to exceed seven (7) characters or positions for a motor vehicle authorized by § 55-4-210(c)(1) ; or (B) If authorized, a unique identifying number not to exceed six (6) positions or characters for a motorcycle; (5) No two (2) applicants shall be assigned identical registration numbers or identical license plates; (6) Any eligible person may elect to exchange a regular registration plate for a plate enumerated in subsection (a); provided, that the fees prescribed under § 55-4-204 are paid; (7) The whole or parts of the additional fee prescribed by § 55-4-204 for a cultural, specialty earmarked or new specialty earmarked plate shall not be refunded for the exchange of a regular plate; (8) Additional such plates may be obtained by any eligible person upon payment of the regular license fee for plates, as prescribed under § 55-4-111 , plus the payment of the fee prescribed in § 55-4-204 ; (9) The plates enumerated in this subsection (a) shall be issued for the applicant's use only on the authorized motor vehicle, and in the event of a transfer of title, the transferor shall surrender the plate to the department through the county clerk; (10) The plates may be transferred to another vehicle of the same weight class owned or leased by the same person upon proper application being made therefor and approved by the department; and (11) It is unlawful for any person to whom the plates have been issued to knowingly permit them to be displayed on any motor vehicle, except as authorized by the department. (b) This section shall also apply to the issuance and renewal of special purpose plates and memorial plates, unless the section authorizing the issuance of an individual memorial or special purpose plate specifically provides otherwise. Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 218, s 3, eff. 4/22/2021. Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1023, s 49, eff. 7/1/2018. Acts 1998, ch. 1063, § 1; 2007 , ch. 484, § 48.
(a) This subsection (a) shall apply to the issuance and renewal of the cultural, specialty earmarked and new specialty earmarked plates authorized by this part, unless the section authorizing the issuance of an individual plate specifically provides otherwise: (1) The plates enumerated in this subsection (a) shall be issued in conformity with § 55-4-203 ; (2) The plates shall contain the logo, emblem, insignia, or other distinctive design of the agency, organization, purpose or other entity which is being honored or recognized by the issuance of that specific plate; (3) The plates shall be designed in consultation with the commissioner and the department's vehicle services director, in addition to any other person or entity designated to be consulted relative to the design of the plate in the section authorizing an individual plate; (4) The plates shall include: (A) A unique identifying number not to exceed seven (7) characters or positions for a motor vehicle authorized by § 55-4-210(c)(1) ; or (B) If authorized, a unique identifying number not to exceed six (6) positions or characters for a motorcycle; (5) No two (2) applicants shall be assigned identical registration numbers or identical license plates; (6) Any eligible person may elect to exchange a regular registration plate for a plate enumerated in subsection (a); provided, that the fees prescribed under § 55-4-204 are paid; (7) The whole or parts of the additional fee prescribed by § 55-4-204 for a cultural, specialty earmarked or new specialty earmarked plate shall not be refunded for the exchange of a regular plate; (8) Additional such plates may be obtained by any eligible person upon payment of the regular license fee for plates, as prescribed under § 55-4-111 , plus the payment of the fee prescribed in § 55-4-204 ; (9) The plates enumerated in this subsection (a) shall be issued for the applicant's use only on the authorized motor vehicle, and in the event of a transfer of title, the transferor shall surrender the plate to the department through the county clerk; (10) The plates may be transferred to another vehicle of the same weight class owned or leased by the same person upon proper application being made therefor and approved by the department; and (11) It is unlawful for any person to whom the plates have been issued to knowingly permit them to be displayed on any motor vehicle, except as authorized by the department.
(1) The plates enumerated in this subsection (a) shall be issued in conformity with § 55-4-203 ;
(2) The plates shall contain the logo, emblem, insignia, or other distinctive design of the agency, organization, purpose or other entity which is being honored or recognized by the issuance of that specific plate;
(3) The plates shall be designed in consultation with the commissioner and the department's vehicle services director, in addition to any other person or entity designated to be consulted relative to the design of the plate in the section authorizing an individual plate;
(4) The plates shall include: (A) A unique identifying number not to exceed seven (7) characters or positions for a motor vehicle authorized by § 55-4-210(c)(1) ; or (B) If authorized, a unique identifying number not to exceed six (6) positions or characters for a motorcycle;
(A) A unique identifying number not to exceed seven (7) characters or positions for a motor vehicle authorized by § 55-4-210(c)(1) ; or
(B) If authorized, a unique identifying number not to exceed six (6) positions or characters for a motorcycle;
(5) No two (2) applicants shall be assigned identical registration numbers or identical license plates;
(6) Any eligible person may elect to exchange a regular registration plate for a plate enumerated in subsection (a); provided, that the fees prescribed under § 55-4-204 are paid;
(7) The whole or parts of the additional fee prescribed by § 55-4-204 for a cultural, specialty earmarked or new specialty earmarked plate shall not be refunded for the exchange of a regular plate;
(8) Additional such plates may be obtained by any eligible person upon payment of the regular license fee for plates, as prescribed under § 55-4-111 , plus the payment of the fee prescribed in § 55-4-204 ;
(9) The plates enumerated in this subsection (a) shall be issued for the applicant's use only on the authorized motor vehicle, and in the event of a transfer of title, the transferor shall surrender the plate to the department through the county clerk;
(10) The plates may be transferred to another vehicle of the same weight class owned or leased by the same person upon proper application being made therefor and approved by the department; and
(11) It is unlawful for any person to whom the plates have been issued to knowingly permit them to be displayed on any motor vehicle, except as authorized by the department.
(b) This section shall also apply to the issuance and renewal of special purpose plates and memorial plates, unless the section authorizing the issuance of an individual memorial or special purpose plate specifically provides otherwise.
Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 218, s 3, eff. 4/22/2021.
Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1023, s 49, eff. 7/1/2018.
Acts 1998, ch. 1063, § 1; 2007 , ch. 484, § 48.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-102 — TN Code / Title 55 / Chapter 9 / Section 55-9-102
Emergency parts and accessories to be carried by various type motor vehicles
Status: in_force

Every motor vehicle, according to its type or character of operation as listed in subdivisions (1) and (2), shall carry at all times the following emergency parts and accessories, which shall be in proper and effective working order and available for immediate use: (1) On every bus, truck, or truck tractor, except pickup trucks having not more than two (2) rear wheels and equipped with emergency flashing lights at front and rear: (A) At least one (1) fire extinguisher, of a type inspected and labeled by Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc., under classification B, and utilizing an extinguishing agent that does not need protection from freezing (minimum size, two-pound dry chemical type); (B) One (1) red lantern, when projecting loads are carried; and (C) One (1) red cloth flag, not less than twelve inches (12") square, when projecting loads are carried; (2) On every bus, truck, and truck tractor, except pickup trucks having not more than two (2) rear wheels and equipped with emergency flashing lights at front and rear, operating outside the corporate limits of municipalities, excepting buses subject to the general supervision and regulation, jurisdiction and control of the governing body of a municipality under §§ 65-4-101 , 65-4-104 and [former] 65-16-101 [repealed], and operating within the territorial limits of the regulatory jurisdiction of the governing body: (A) All items listed under subdivision (1); (B) One (1) set of tire chains, for all vehicles likely to encounter conditions requiring them; (C) (i) At least three (3) flares or three (3) red emergency reflectors, or three (3) red electric lanterns, unless the motor vehicle is operated solely on streets or highways that are artificially lighted at night; (ii) Each flare (liquid burning pot torch) or red emergency reflector or red electric lantern shall be capable of being seen and distinguished at a distance of five hundred feet (500') under normal atmospheric conditions; (iii) Each flare (pot torch) shall be capable of burning for not less than twelve (12) hours in five miles per hour (5 mph) wind velocity, capable of burning in any air velocities from zero to forty miles per hour (0-40 mph), substantially constructed so as to withstand reasonable shock without leaking, and shall be carried in a metal rack or box. Each red electric lantern shall be capable of operating continuously for not less than twelve (12) hours and shall be substantially constructed so as to withstand reasonable shock without breakage; (iv) Each red emergency reflector shall conform in all respects to the requirements of the following specifications, and must be approved for use in Tennessee by the department of safety: (a) Each red emergency reflector shall be comprised of a multiplicity of red reflecting elements on each side, not less than two (2), front and back, every one of which red reflecting elements shall conform as a minimum requirement to the specifications for Class A Reflex Reflectors contained in the SAE Handbook, 1944 edition (published by the Society of Automotive Engineers, 29 West 39th Street, New York, New York). The aggregate candlepower output of the reflecting elements of the device when tested in the perpendicular position at one-third degree (1/3°) as specified by SAE photometric procedure shall be not less than twelve (12); (b) If the reflecting surfaces or reflector elements would be adversely affected by dust, soot, or other foreign matter, they shall be adequately sealed within the body of the units in which they are incorporated. Each reflector device shall be of such weight and dimensions as to remain stable and stationary when in a forty mile per hour (40 mph) wind on any road surface on which it is likely to be used, and shall be so constructed as to withstand reasonable shock without breakage. Each reflector device shall be so constructed that the reflecting elements shall be in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the roadway when placed thereon; and (c) Reasonable protection shall be afforded each reflector device, and the reflecting elements incorporated therein, by enclosure in a box or rack from which the three (3) devices readily may be extracted for use. In the event the reflector devices are collapsible, locking means shall be provided to maintain the reflecting elements in effective position, and the locking means shall be readily capable of adjustment without the use of tools or special equipment; (v) Each unit of a set of three (3) red emergency reflectors shall be marked plainly with the certification of the manufacturer that it fulfills the requirements of these specifications; and (vi) Each red emergency reflector when used shall be so placed on the highway as to reflect to oncoming vehicles the maximum amount of reflected light; (D) At least three (3) red burning fusees (if carrier elects to carry and use flares as warning signals), unless the motor vehicle is operated solely on streets or highways that are artificially lighted at night. Each fusee shall be made in accordance with the specifications of the Bureau of Explosives, 30 Vesey Street, New York, New York, and so marked, and shall be capable of burning at least fifteen (15) minutes; and (E) At least two (2) red flags of cloth, synthetic or man-made material, not less than twelve inches (12") square, with standards; and (3) On motor vehicles used for the driver education and training course for Class D vehicles as provided by § 55-50-322(f) , there may be equipped amber light-emitting diode (LED) lights on the front and rear of the motor vehicles only if the amber light-emitting diode lights are not placed in the driver's line of sight. Acts 1937, ch. 245, § 5; 1947, ch. 121, § 1; C. Supp. 1950, § 2700.16 (Williams, § 2695); Acts 1973, ch. 326, §§ 4-6; 1975, ch. 102, § 1; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 59-918; Acts 2008 , ch. 967, § 1.
Every motor vehicle, according to its type or character of operation as listed in subdivisions (1) and (2), shall carry at all times the following emergency parts and accessories, which shall be in proper and effective working order and available for immediate use:
(1) On every bus, truck, or truck tractor, except pickup trucks having not more than two (2) rear wheels and equipped with emergency flashing lights at front and rear: (A) At least one (1) fire extinguisher, of a type inspected and labeled by Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc., under classification B, and utilizing an extinguishing agent that does not need protection from freezing (minimum size, two-pound dry chemical type); (B) One (1) red lantern, when projecting loads are carried; and (C) One (1) red cloth flag, not less than twelve inches (12") square, when projecting loads are carried;
(A) At least one (1) fire extinguisher, of a type inspected and labeled by Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc., under classification B, and utilizing an extinguishing agent that does not need protection from freezing (minimum size, two-pound dry chemical type);
(B) One (1) red lantern, when projecting loads are carried; and
(C) One (1) red cloth flag, not less than twelve inches (12") square, when projecting loads are carried;
(2) On every bus, truck, and truck tractor, except pickup trucks having not more than two (2) rear wheels and equipped with emergency flashing lights at front and rear, operating outside the corporate limits of municipalities, excepting buses subject to the general supervision and regulation, jurisdiction and control of the governing body of a municipality under §§ 65-4-101 , 65-4-104 and [former] 65-16-101 [repealed], and operating within the territorial limits of the regulatory jurisdiction of the governing body: (A) All items listed under subdivision (1); (B) One (1) set of tire chains, for all vehicles likely to encounter conditions requiring them; (C) (i) At least three (3) flares or three (3) red emergency reflectors, or three (3) red electric lanterns, unless the motor vehicle is operated solely on streets or highways that are artificially lighted at night; (ii) Each flare (liquid burning pot torch) or red emergency reflector or red electric lantern shall be capable of being seen and distinguished at a distance of five hundred feet (500') under normal atmospheric conditions; (iii) Each flare (pot torch) shall be capable of burning for not less than twelve (12) hours in five miles per hour (5 mph) wind velocity, capable of burning in any air velocities from zero to forty miles per hour (0-40 mph), substantially constructed so as to withstand reasonable shock without leaking, and shall be carried in a metal rack or box. Each red electric lantern shall be capable of operating continuously for not less than twelve (12) hours and shall be substantially constructed so as to withstand reasonable shock without breakage; (iv) Each red emergency reflector shall conform in all respects to the requirements of the following specifications, and must be approved for use in Tennessee by the department of safety: (a) Each red emergency reflector shall be comprised of a multiplicity of red reflecting elements on each side, not less than two (2), front and back, every one of which red reflecting elements shall conform as a minimum requirement to the specifications for Class A Reflex Reflectors contained in the SAE Handbook, 1944 edition (published by the Society of Automotive Engineers, 29 West 39th Street, New York, New York). The aggregate candlepower output of the reflecting elements of the device when tested in the perpendicular position at one-third degree (1/3°) as specified by SAE photometric procedure shall be not less than twelve (12); (b) If the reflecting surfaces or reflector elements would be adversely affected by dust, soot, or other foreign matter, they shall be adequately sealed within the body of the units in which they are incorporated. Each reflector device shall be of such weight and dimensions as to remain stable and stationary when in a forty mile per hour (40 mph) wind on any road surface on which it is likely to be used, and shall be so constructed as to withstand reasonable shock without breakage. Each reflector device shall be so constructed that the reflecting elements shall be in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the roadway when placed thereon; and (c) Reasonable protection shall be afforded each reflector device, and the reflecting elements incorporated therein, by enclosure in a box or rack from which the three (3) devices readily may be extracted for use. In the event the reflector devices are collapsible, locking means shall be provided to maintain the reflecting elements in effective position, and the locking means shall be readily capable of adjustment without the use of tools or special equipment; (v) Each unit of a set of three (3) red emergency reflectors shall be marked plainly with the certification of the manufacturer that it fulfills the requirements of these specifications; and (vi) Each red emergency reflector when used shall be so placed on the highway as to reflect to oncoming vehicles the maximum amount of reflected light; (D) At least three (3) red burning fusees (if carrier elects to carry and use flares as warning signals), unless the motor vehicle is operated solely on streets or highways that are artificially lighted at night. Each fusee shall be made in accordance with the specifications of the Bureau of Explosives, 30 Vesey Street, New York, New York, and so marked, and shall be capable of burning at least fifteen (15) minutes; and (E) At least two (2) red flags of cloth, synthetic or man-made material, not less than twelve inches (12") square, with standards; and
(A) All items listed under subdivision (1);
(B) One (1) set of tire chains, for all vehicles likely to encounter conditions requiring them;
(C) (i) At least three (3) flares or three (3) red emergency reflectors, or three (3) red electric lanterns, unless the motor vehicle is operated solely on streets or highways that are artificially lighted at night; (ii) Each flare (liquid burning pot torch) or red emergency reflector or red electric lantern shall be capable of being seen and distinguished at a distance of five hundred feet (500') under normal atmospheric conditions; (iii) Each flare (pot torch) shall be capable of burning for not less than twelve (12) hours in five miles per hour (5 mph) wind velocity, capable of burning in any air velocities from zero to forty miles per hour (0-40 mph), substantially constructed so as to withstand reasonable shock without leaking, and shall be carried in a metal rack or box. Each red electric lantern shall be capable of operating continuously for not less than twelve (12) hours and shall be substantially constructed so as to withstand reasonable shock without breakage; (iv) Each red emergency reflector shall conform in all respects to the requirements of the following specifications, and must be approved for use in Tennessee by the department of safety: (a) Each red emergency reflector shall be comprised of a multiplicity of red reflecting elements on each side, not less than two (2), front and back, every one of which red reflecting elements shall conform as a minimum requirement to the specifications for Class A Reflex Reflectors contained in the SAE Handbook, 1944 edition (published by the Society of Automotive Engineers, 29 West 39th Street, New York, New York). The aggregate candlepower output of the reflecting elements of the device when tested in the perpendicular position at one-third degree (1/3°) as specified by SAE photometric procedure shall be not less than twelve (12); (b) If the reflecting surfaces or reflector elements would be adversely affected by dust, soot, or other foreign matter, they shall be adequately sealed within the body of the units in which they are incorporated. Each reflector device shall be of such weight and dimensions as to remain stable and stationary when in a forty mile per hour (40 mph) wind on any road surface on which it is likely to be used, and shall be so constructed as to withstand reasonable shock without breakage. Each reflector device shall be so constructed that the reflecting elements shall be in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the roadway when placed thereon; and (c) Reasonable protection shall be afforded each reflector device, and the reflecting elements incorporated therein, by enclosure in a box or rack from which the three (3) devices readily may be extracted for use. In the event the reflector devices are collapsible, locking means shall be provided to maintain the reflecting elements in effective position, and the locking means shall be readily capable of adjustment without the use of tools or special equipment; (v) Each unit of a set of three (3) red emergency reflectors shall be marked plainly with the certification of the manufacturer that it fulfills the requirements of these specifications; and (vi) Each red emergency reflector when used shall be so placed on the highway as to reflect to oncoming vehicles the maximum amount of reflected light;
(i) At least three (3) flares or three (3) red emergency reflectors, or three (3) red electric lanterns, unless the motor vehicle is operated solely on streets or highways that are artificially lighted at night;
(ii) Each flare (liquid burning pot torch) or red emergency reflector or red electric lantern shall be capable of being seen and distinguished at a distance of five hundred feet (500') under normal atmospheric conditions;
(iii) Each flare (pot torch) shall be capable of burning for not less than twelve (12) hours in five miles per hour (5 mph) wind velocity, capable of burning in any air velocities from zero to forty miles per hour (0-40 mph), substantially constructed so as to withstand reasonable shock without leaking, and shall be carried in a metal rack or box. Each red electric lantern shall be capable of operating continuously for not less than twelve (12) hours and shall be substantially constructed so as to withstand reasonable shock without breakage;
(iv) Each red emergency reflector shall conform in all respects to the requirements of the following specifications, and must be approved for use in Tennessee by the department of safety: (a) Each red emergency reflector shall be comprised of a multiplicity of red reflecting elements on each side, not less than two (2), front and back, every one of which red reflecting elements shall conform as a minimum requirement to the specifications for Class A Reflex Reflectors contained in the SAE Handbook, 1944 edition (published by the Society of Automotive Engineers, 29 West 39th Street, New York, New York). The aggregate candlepower output of the reflecting elements of the device when tested in the perpendicular position at one-third degree (1/3°) as specified by SAE photometric procedure shall be not less than twelve (12); (b) If the reflecting surfaces or reflector elements would be adversely affected by dust, soot, or other foreign matter, they shall be adequately sealed within the body of the units in which they are incorporated. Each reflector device shall be of such weight and dimensions as to remain stable and stationary when in a forty mile per hour (40 mph) wind on any road surface on which it is likely to be used, and shall be so constructed as to withstand reasonable shock without breakage. Each reflector device shall be so constructed that the reflecting elements shall be in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the roadway when placed thereon; and (c) Reasonable protection shall be afforded each reflector device, and the reflecting elements incorporated therein, by enclosure in a box or rack from which the three (3) devices readily may be extracted for use. In the event the reflector devices are collapsible, locking means shall be provided to maintain the reflecting elements in effective position, and the locking means shall be readily capable of adjustment without the use of tools or special equipment;
(a) Each red emergency reflector shall be comprised of a multiplicity of red reflecting elements on each side, not less than two (2), front and back, every one of which red reflecting elements shall conform as a minimum requirement to the specifications for Class A Reflex Reflectors contained in the SAE Handbook, 1944 edition (published by the Society of Automotive Engineers, 29 West 39th Street, New York, New York). The aggregate candlepower output of the reflecting elements of the device when tested in the perpendicular position at one-third degree (1/3°) as specified by SAE photometric procedure shall be not less than twelve (12);
(b) If the reflecting surfaces or reflector elements would be adversely affected by dust, soot, or other foreign matter, they shall be adequately sealed within the body of the units in which they are incorporated. Each reflector device shall be of such weight and dimensions as to remain stable and stationary when in a forty mile per hour (40 mph) wind on any road surface on which it is likely to be used, and shall be so constructed as to withstand reasonable shock without breakage. Each reflector device shall be so constructed that the reflecting elements shall be in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the roadway when placed thereon; and
(c) Reasonable protection shall be afforded each reflector device, and the reflecting elements incorporated therein, by enclosure in a box or rack from which the three (3) devices readily may be extracted for use. In the event the reflector devices are collapsible, locking means shall be provided to maintain the reflecting elements in effective position, and the locking means shall be readily capable of adjustment without the use of tools or special equipment;
(v) Each unit of a set of three (3) red emergency reflectors shall be marked plainly with the certification of the manufacturer that it fulfills the requirements of these specifications; and
(vi) Each red emergency reflector when used shall be so placed on the highway as to reflect to oncoming vehicles the maximum amount of reflected light;
(D) At least three (3) red burning fusees (if carrier elects to carry and use flares as warning signals), unless the motor vehicle is operated solely on streets or highways that are artificially lighted at night. Each fusee shall be made in accordance with the specifications of the Bureau of Explosives, 30 Vesey Street, New York, New York, and so marked, and shall be capable of burning at least fifteen (15) minutes; and
(E) At least two (2) red flags of cloth, synthetic or man-made material, not less than twelve inches (12") square, with standards; and
(3) On motor vehicles used for the driver education and training course for Class D vehicles as provided by § 55-50-322(f) , there may be equipped amber light-emitting diode (LED) lights on the front and rear of the motor vehicles only if the amber light-emitting diode lights are not placed in the driver's line of sight.
Acts 1937, ch. 245, § 5; 1947, ch. 121, § 1; C. Supp. 1950, § 2700.16 (Williams, § 2695); Acts 1973, ch. 326, §§ 4-6; 1975, ch. 102, § 1; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 59-918; Acts 2008 , ch. 967, § 1.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-52-104 — TN Code / Title 55 / Chapter 52 / Section 55-52-104
Purpose
Status: in_force

The purpose of this part is to reduce the incidence of disability and death resulting from injuries incurred in bicycling accidents by requiring that, while riding on a bicycle on state highways, streets and sidewalks, all bicycle operators and passengers under sixteen (16) years of age wear approved protective bicycle helmets; that all bicycle passengers who weigh less than forty pounds (40 lbs.) or who are less than forty inches (40") in height be seated in separate restraining seats; and that no person who is unable to maintain an erect, seated position shall be a passenger in a bicycle restraining seat. Acts 1993, ch. 399, § 5; 1998, ch. 684, § 1; 2000, ch. 916, § 4.
The purpose of this part is to reduce the incidence of disability and death resulting from injuries incurred in bicycling accidents by requiring that, while riding on a bicycle on state highways, streets and sidewalks, all bicycle operators and passengers under sixteen (16) years of age wear approved protective bicycle helmets; that all bicycle passengers who weigh less than forty pounds (40 lbs.) or who are less than forty inches (40") in height be seated in separate restraining seats; and that no person who is unable to maintain an erect, seated position shall be a passenger in a bicycle restraining seat.
Acts 1993, ch. 399, § 5; 1998, ch. 684, § 1; 2000, ch. 916, § 4.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-117 — TN Code / Title 55 / Chapter 12 / Section 55-12-117
Duration of nonresident's suspension or revocation for failure to file proof of financial responsibility following conviction - Restoration
Status: in_force

(a) Whenever, by reason of a conviction, the commissioner suspends or revokes a nonresident's operating privileges in this state, or requests that the commissioner of revenue suspend or revoke the person's registration privileges, the privileges remain suspended or revoked as permitted under the motor vehicle laws of this state until the person provides proof of financial responsibility and maintains proof, as required by § 55-12-126 . The person shall also pay to the commissioner of safety a sixty-five-dollar restoration fee before the suspended or revoked privileges may be reinstated. Upon restoration of the person's operating privileges, the commissioner of safety shall request that the commissioner of revenue reinstate the person's motor vehicle registration and, upon payment to the commissioner of revenue of the appropriate motor vehicle registration fees provided by § 55-4-111 , § 55-4-112 , or § 55-4-113 , the registration must be reinstated immediately. (b) The department of safety may release a person's requirement to provide proof of financial responsibility after the expiration of the period of suspension or revocation if the department of safety's records establish that during the suspension or revocation period, the person was not convicted of an additional offense authorizing or requiring the suspension or revocation of the person's license, nor was the person's license suspended, revoked, prohibited, or cancelled due to a separate violation of law. If the department of safety, pursuant to this subsection (b), releases the requirement that a person furnish proof of financial responsibility, and if the person's motor vehicle registration has been suspended or revoked because of the person's failure to furnish proof, then the commissioner of safety shall request that the commissioner of revenue reinstate the person's registration and, upon payment to the commissioner of revenue of the appropriate motor vehicle registration fees provided by § 55-4-111 , § 55-4-112 , or § 55-4-113 , the registration must be reinstated immediately. Notwithstanding another law to the contrary, this subsection (b) does not apply if there is an unsatisfied judgment based on a motor vehicle accident. Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 336, s 6, eff. 1/1/2024. Acts 1977, ch. 446, § 17; T.C.A., § 59-1267; Acts 1980, ch. 817, § 6; 1986, ch. 842, §§ 27, 29; 2007 , ch. 484, § 85.
(a) Whenever, by reason of a conviction, the commissioner suspends or revokes a nonresident's operating privileges in this state, or requests that the commissioner of revenue suspend or revoke the person's registration privileges, the privileges remain suspended or revoked as permitted under the motor vehicle laws of this state until the person provides proof of financial responsibility and maintains proof, as required by § 55-12-126 . The person shall also pay to the commissioner of safety a sixty-five-dollar restoration fee before the suspended or revoked privileges may be reinstated. Upon restoration of the person's operating privileges, the commissioner of safety shall request that the commissioner of revenue reinstate the person's motor vehicle registration and, upon payment to the commissioner of revenue of the appropriate motor vehicle registration fees provided by § 55-4-111 , § 55-4-112 , or § 55-4-113 , the registration must be reinstated immediately.
(b) The department of safety may release a person's requirement to provide proof of financial responsibility after the expiration of the period of suspension or revocation if the department of safety's records establish that during the suspension or revocation period, the person was not convicted of an additional offense authorizing or requiring the suspension or revocation of the person's license, nor was the person's license suspended, revoked, prohibited, or cancelled due to a separate violation of law. If the department of safety, pursuant to this subsection (b), releases the requirement that a person furnish proof of financial responsibility, and if the person's motor vehicle registration has been suspended or revoked because of the person's failure to furnish proof, then the commissioner of safety shall request that the commissioner of revenue reinstate the person's registration and, upon payment to the commissioner of revenue of the appropriate motor vehicle registration fees provided by § 55-4-111 , § 55-4-112 , or § 55-4-113 , the registration must be reinstated immediately. Notwithstanding another law to the contrary, this subsection (b) does not apply if there is an unsatisfied judgment based on a motor vehicle accident.
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 336, s 6, eff. 1/1/2024.
Acts 1977, ch. 446, § 17; T.C.A., § 59-1267; Acts 1980, ch. 817, § 6; 1986, ch. 842, §§ 27, 29; 2007 , ch. 484, § 85.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-4-358 — TN Code / Title 55 / Chapter 4 / Section 55-4-358
[Repealed]
Status: repealed

Repealed by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 250, s 1, eff. 7/1/2023. Added by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 579, s 12, eff. 7/1/2021.
Repealed by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 250, s 1, eff. 7/1/2023.
Added by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 579, s 12, eff. 7/1/2021.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-4-293 — TN Code / Title 55 / Chapter 4 / Section 55-4-293
Supporter of Saint Jude Children's Research Hospital
Status: in_force

(a) An owner or lessee of a motor vehicle who is a resident of this state, upon complying with state motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles, and paying the regular fee applicable to the motor vehicle and the fee provided for in § 55-4-204 , shall be issued a supporter of Saint Jude Children's Research Hospital specialty earmarked license plate for a motor vehicle authorized by § 55-4-210(c) . (b) The specialty earmarked plates provided for in this section shall be designed in consultation with the chair of the board of directors of Saint Jude Children's Research Hospital. (c) (1) The funds produced from the sale of the supporters of Saint Jude Children's Research Hospital specialty earmarked license plates, less the expense the state has incurred in designing and manufacturing the plates, shall be deposited in a special fund in the general fund to be used exclusively for research into the causes and treatment of cancer and cancer-related illnesses in children at children's hospitals in Tennessee that have such treatment and research as their principal mission. The commissioner of health shall make grants to these hospitals for such research from moneys available in the special fund. (2) There is established a general fund reserve to be allocated by the general appropriations act, which shall be known as the children's cancer research endowment fund. Moneys from the fund may be expended to fund activities authorized by this section. Any revenues deposited in this reserve shall remain in the reserve until expended for purposes consistent with this section, and shall not revert to the general fund on any June 30. Any excess revenues on interest earned by the revenues shall not revert on any June 30, but shall remain available for appropriation in subsequent fiscal years. Any appropriation from this reserve shall not revert to the general fund on any June 30, but shall remain available for expenditure in subsequent fiscal years. Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1023,s 49, eff. 7/1/2018. Acts 1998, ch. 1063, § 1.
(a) An owner or lessee of a motor vehicle who is a resident of this state, upon complying with state motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles, and paying the regular fee applicable to the motor vehicle and the fee provided for in § 55-4-204 , shall be issued a supporter of Saint Jude Children's Research Hospital specialty earmarked license plate for a motor vehicle authorized by § 55-4-210(c) .
(b) The specialty earmarked plates provided for in this section shall be designed in consultation with the chair of the board of directors of Saint Jude Children's Research Hospital.
(c) (1) The funds produced from the sale of the supporters of Saint Jude Children's Research Hospital specialty earmarked license plates, less the expense the state has incurred in designing and manufacturing the plates, shall be deposited in a special fund in the general fund to be used exclusively for research into the causes and treatment of cancer and cancer-related illnesses in children at children's hospitals in Tennessee that have such treatment and research as their principal mission. The commissioner of health shall make grants to these hospitals for such research from moneys available in the special fund. (2) There is established a general fund reserve to be allocated by the general appropriations act, which shall be known as the children's cancer research endowment fund. Moneys from the fund may be expended to fund activities authorized by this section. Any revenues deposited in this reserve shall remain in the reserve until expended for purposes consistent with this section, and shall not revert to the general fund on any June 30. Any excess revenues on interest earned by the revenues shall not revert on any June 30, but shall remain available for appropriation in subsequent fiscal years. Any appropriation from this reserve shall not revert to the general fund on any June 30, but shall remain available for expenditure in subsequent fiscal years.
(1) The funds produced from the sale of the supporters of Saint Jude Children's Research Hospital specialty earmarked license plates, less the expense the state has incurred in designing and manufacturing the plates, shall be deposited in a special fund in the general fund to be used exclusively for research into the causes and treatment of cancer and cancer-related illnesses in children at children's hospitals in Tennessee that have such treatment and research as their principal mission. The commissioner of health shall make grants to these hospitals for such research from moneys available in the special fund.
(2) There is established a general fund reserve to be allocated by the general appropriations act, which shall be known as the children's cancer research endowment fund. Moneys from the fund may be expended to fund activities authorized by this section. Any revenues deposited in this reserve shall remain in the reserve until expended for purposes consistent with this section, and shall not revert to the general fund on any June 30. Any excess revenues on interest earned by the revenues shall not revert on any June 30, but shall remain available for appropriation in subsequent fiscal years. Any appropriation from this reserve shall not revert to the general fund on any June 30, but shall remain available for expenditure in subsequent fiscal years.
Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1023,s 49, eff. 7/1/2018.
Acts 1998, ch. 1063, § 1.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-4-374 — TN Code / Title 55 / Chapter 4 / Section 55-4-374
[Repealed]
Status: repealed

Repealed by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 250, s 1, eff. 7/1/2023. Amended by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 968, s 19, eff. 7/1/2022. Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 579, s 66, eff. 7/1/2021.
Repealed by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 250, s 1, eff. 7/1/2023.
Amended by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 968, s 19, eff. 7/1/2022.
Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 579, s 66, eff. 7/1/2021.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-402 — TN Code / Title 55 / Chapter 9 / Section 55-9-402
Lights required on motor vehicles - Exceptions - Regulations as to color, type and visibility distance
Status: in_force

(a) (1) Every motor vehicle other than a motorcycle, road roller, road machinery or farm tractor shall be equipped with at least two (2) and not more than four (4) headlights, with at least one (1) on each side of the front of the motor vehicle. No nonemergency vehicle shall operate or install emergency flashing light systems, such as strobe, wig-wag, or other flashing lights within the headlight assembly or grill area of the vehicle; provided, however, that a school bus may operate a flashing, wig-wag lighting system within the headlight assembly of the vehicle when the vehicle's visual stop signs are actuated for receiving or discharging school children. (2) Auxiliary road lighting lamps may be used, but not more than two (2) of the lamps shall be lighted at any one (1) time in addition to the two (2) required headlights. (3) No spotlight or auxiliary lamp shall be so aimed upon approaching another vehicle that any part of the high intensity portion of the beam therefrom is directed beyond the left side of the motor vehicle upon which the spotlight or auxiliary lamp is mounted, nor more than one hundred feet (100') ahead of the motor vehicle. (b) (1) Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with two (2) red tail lamps and two (2) red stoplights on the rear of the vehicle, and one (1) tail lamp and one (1) stoplight shall be on each side, except that passenger cars manufactured or assembled prior to January 1, 1939, trucks manufactured or assembled prior to January 1, 1968, and motorcycles and motorscooters shall have at least one (1) red tail lamp and one (1) red stoplight. No nonemergency vehicle shall operate or install emergency flashing light systems such as strobe, wig-wag, or other flashing lights in tail light lamp, stoplight area, or factory installed emergency flasher and backup light area; provided, however, that the foregoing prohibition shall not apply to the utilization of a continuously flashing light system. For the purposes of this part, "continuously flashing light system" means a brake light system in which the brake lamp pulses rapidly for no more than five (5) seconds when the brake is applied, and then converts to a continuous light as a normal brake lamp until the time that the brake is released. (2) The stoplight shall be so arranged as to be actuated by the application of the service or foot brake and shall be capable of being seen and distinguished from a distance of one hundred feet (100') to the rear of a motor vehicle in normal daylight, but shall not project a glaring or dazzling light. (3) The stoplight may be incorporated with the tail lamp. (4) Motor vehicle tail light lamps may operate as following: (A) A white backup light operates when the motor vehicle is in reverse; (B) When the driver is in a panic stop condition going forward, the backup lamp pulses or flashes red; and (C) Upon normal stops of the motor vehicle, there is no action by the backup light. (c) Each lamp and stoplight required in this section shall be in good condition and operational. (d) (1) No vehicle operated in this state shall be equipped with any flashing lights in any color or combination of colors that display to the front of the vehicle, other than factory installed emergency flashers, except as provided in this section and for the following vehicles: (A) Motorcycle escorts of properly identified funeral processions authorized by § 55-8-183 to display green strobe flashing lights; (B) Vehicles owned by or leased to licensed public or private security services but not personally owned vehicles of security guards may display flashing lights in any color other than red, white, or blue, or in any combination of colors other than red, white, or blue; provided, that the flashing lights authorized by this subdivision (d)(1)(B) for security services vehicles shall not be operated or illuminated while the vehicle is on a public road, in motion or stationary, and shall only be illuminated when patrolling a shopping center or mall parking lot or other private premises or if stopped in a hazardous location for the purposes of warning; (C) A highway maintenance or utility vehicle or recovery vehicle may display flashing white or amber lights or any combination of flashing white and amber lights pursuant to subsection (e); (D) A motor vehicle operated for purposes of an emergency equipment company pursuant to subsection (g) may display flashing red, white, blue, or amber lights or any combination of flashing red, white, blue, and amber lights; provided, that emergency equipment company vehicles shall not display or illuminate the lights authorized by this section while the vehicle is on a public road, whether in motion or stationary; (E) A passenger motor vehicle operated by an organ procurement organization or a person under an agreement with an organ procurement organization may display flashing white or amber lights or flashing white and amber lights in combination when transporting an organ for human transplantation; (F) A school bus, a passenger motor vehicle operated by a rural mail carrier of the United States postal service while performing the duties of a rural mail carrier, or an emergency vehicle used in firefighting, including ambulances, emergency vehicles used in firefighting that are owned or operated by the division of forestry, firefighting vehicles, rescue vehicles, privately owned vehicles of regular or volunteer firefighters certified in § 55-9-201(c) , or other emergency vehicles used in firefighting owned, operated, or subsidized by the governing body of any county or municipality, may display flashing red or white lights or flashing red and white lights in combination; and (G) Authorized law enforcement vehicles and other vehicles authorized by § 55-9-414 to display flashing red, white, and blue lights in combination. (2) Any emergency rescue vehicle owned, titled and operated by a state chartered rescue squad, a member of the Tennessee Association of Rescue Squads, privately owned vehicles of regular or volunteer firefighters certified in § 55-9-201(c) , and marked with lettering at least three inches (3") in size and displayed on the left and right sides of the vehicle designating it an "Emergency Rescue Vehicle," any authorized civil defense emergency vehicle displaying the appropriate civil defense agency markings of at least three inches (3"), any ambulance or vehicle equipped to provide emergency medical services properly licensed as required in the state and displaying the proper markings, and any motor vehicle operated for purposes of an emergency equipment company pursuant to subsection (g); provided, that lights authorized by this subdivision (d)(2) for such emergency equipment company vehicle shall not be operated or illuminated while the vehicle is on a public road, whether in motion or stationary, shall also be authorized to be lighted in one (1) or more of the following manners: (A) A red or red/white visibar type with public address system; (B) A red or red/white oscillating type light; and (C) Blinking red or red/white lights, front and rear. (3) No vehicle operated in this state shall be equipped with any steady-burning lights that display to the front of the vehicle in any color other than white or amber or in any combination of colors other than white and amber, except for the following vehicles: (A) A vehicle equipped with headlamps, daytime running lamps, or other similar devices in any color or combination of colors between white and amber authorized by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, as adopted by the national highway traffic safety administration and compiled in 49 CFR 571.108 ; (B) A motor vehicle operated for purposes of an emergency equipment company may display steady-burning red, white, blue, or amber lights, or any combination of steady-burning red, white, blue, and amber lights pursuant to subsection (g); provided, that emergency equipment company vehicles shall not display or illuminate the lights authorized by this section while the vehicle is on a public road, whether in motion or stationary; (C) A school bus, a passenger motor vehicle operated by a rural mail carrier of the United States postal service while performing the duties of a rural mail carrier, or an emergency vehicle used in firefighting, including ambulances, emergency vehicles used in firefighting that are owned or operated by the division of forestry, firefighting vehicles, rescue vehicles, privately owned vehicles of regular or volunteer firefighters certified in § 55-9-201(c) , or other emergency vehicles used in firefighting owned, operated, or subsidized by the governing body of any county or municipality, may display steady-burning red lights; (D) Authorized law enforcement vehicles and other vehicles listed in § 55-9-414 may display steady-burning red, white, and blue lights in combination; and (E) A personal vehicle operated by a transportation network company driver may display one (1) or more removable, illuminated, interior trade dress devices in any color other than red or blue, or in any combination of colors other than red or blue, that is issued by a transportation network company and that assists passengers in identifying and communicating with transportation network company drivers. The illuminated display on such a device shall not exceed five (5) candlepower. (e) (1) (A) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, nothing in this section shall prohibit a highway maintenance or utility vehicle, or any other type vehicle or equipment participating, in any fashion, with highway or utility construction, maintenance, or inspection, from operating a white, amber, or white and amber light system on any location on the vehicle or equipment while the vehicle or equipment is parked upon, entering or leaving any highway or utility construction, maintenance, repair or inspection site. (B) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a recovery vehicle designed for towing a disabled vehicle, as defined in § 55-8-132 , while in the performance of duties involved with towing an abandoned, immobile, disabled or unattended motor vehicle is authorized to display an amber light that is a strobe, flashing, oscillating or revolving system or any combination of white and amber lights. Such authorized light or lights may be displayed on any location on the vehicle or equipment, other than within the headlight assembly or grill area of the vehicle, in the tail light lamp or stoplight area, or factory installed emergency flasher and backup light area. (C) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, an implement of husbandry, as defined in § 55-1-108 , and a vehicle used to escort an implement of husbandry is authorized to display a white, amber, or white and amber light system on any location on the implement of husbandry or escort vehicle while the implement or vehicle is on a public road, whether in motion or stationary. (2) As used in this subsection (e), "utility" means any person, municipality, county, metropolitan government, cooperative, board, commission, district, or any entity created or authorized by public act, private act, or general law to provide electricity, natural gas, water, waste water services, telephone service, or any combination thereof, for sale to consumers in any particular service area. (3) As used in subdivision (e)(2), "cooperative" means any cooperative providing utility services including, but not limited to, electric or telephone services, or both. (4) Nothing in this subsection (e) imposes any duty or obligation to install or utilize the lighting systems allowed in this section. (f) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, nothing in this section shall prohibit a motor vehicle used for the driver education and training course for Class D vehicles as provided by § 55-50-322(f) from operating an amber light-emitting diode (LED) light system on the front and rear of such vehicle other than in the taillight lamp, stoplight area, or factory-installed emergency flasher and backup light area. The amber light-emitting diode light system shall not be placed in the driver's line of sight. Nothing in this subsection (f) imposes any duty or obligation to install or utilize the lighting system allowed in this subsection (f). (g) (1) The prohibitions in subdivisions (a)(1) and (b)(1), and subsection (d) do not apply to any privately-owned motor vehicle that is primarily operated for business purposes by any salesperson, service representative, employee, lessee, or duly authorized agent of an emergency equipment company; provided, that the vehicle is marked with the lettering required by subdivision (g)(3). (2) Any person operating a motor vehicle pursuant to this subsection (g) shall carry a copy of the company's business license or the person's or owner of the company's professional or occupational license, certification or registration issued by this state and appropriate identification issued by the owner of the company. (3) Lettering shall be displayed on the left and right sides of the vehicle identifying the name of the company for which the vehicle is operated and on the front and rear of the vehicle designating it a "Demonstration Vehicle." The lettering shall be painted or affixed on, or attached to, the vehicle in a permanent manner, and shall be at least three inches (3") in size. (4) Nothing in this subsection (g) imposes any duty or obligation on a manufacturer of motor vehicles used by or sold to emergency equipment companies to install, maintain or exhibit the lighting system allowed in this subsection (g) at the time of manufacture or sale. (5) Nothing in this subsection (g) shall be construed to permit the operator of an emergency equipment company vehicle from operating any lighting equipment authorized by this subsection (g) while the vehicle is on a public road, whether in motion or stationary. (6) As used in this section, "emergency equipment company" or "company" means any entity licensed as required by this state to sell or repair lighting equipment designed for use on motor vehicles that are operated for authorized law enforcement, emergency response, or other public safety activities. (h) A violation of this section is a Class C misdemeanor. Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 100, s 11, eff. 7/1/2024. Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 645, s 1, eff. 4/2/2018. Amended by 2017 Tenn. Acts, ch. 378, Secs.s 2, s 3 eff. 1/1/2018. Amended by 2017 Tenn. Acts, ch. 378, s 1, eff. 1/1/2018. Amended by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 710, s 3, Sec.s 4, s 5 eff. 7/1/2014. Amended by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 710, s 2, eff. 7/1/2014. Acts 1931, ch. 82, § 15; 1937, ch. 245, § 5; 1941, ch. 121, § 1; C. Supp. 1950, § 2700.16 (Williams, § 2695); Acts 1957, ch. 51, § 1; 1969, ch. 40, § 1; 1970, ch. 598, § 1; 1975, ch. 342, § 1; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 59-905; Acts 1981, ch. 111, §§ 1, 2; 1982, ch. 850, § 3; 1989, ch. 173, §§ 2, 3; 1989, ch. 591, § 113; 1991, ch. 221, § 1; 1997 , ch. 299, §§ 1-5; 2003 , ch. 67, § 1; 2004, ch. 474, § 1; 2005, ch. 154, §§ 1 - 4; 2006, ch. 584, §§ 1, 2; 2008 , ch. 967, § 2; 2010 , ch. 938, § 1; 2011 , ch. 137, §§ 1, 2; 2012 , ch. 733, §§ 1-3.
(a) (1) Every motor vehicle other than a motorcycle, road roller, road machinery or farm tractor shall be equipped with at least two (2) and not more than four (4) headlights, with at least one (1) on each side of the front of the motor vehicle. No nonemergency vehicle shall operate or install emergency flashing light systems, such as strobe, wig-wag, or other flashing lights within the headlight assembly or grill area of the vehicle; provided, however, that a school bus may operate a flashing, wig-wag lighting system within the headlight assembly of the vehicle when the vehicle's visual stop signs are actuated for receiving or discharging school children. (2) Auxiliary road lighting lamps may be used, but not more than two (2) of the lamps shall be lighted at any one (1) time in addition to the two (2) required headlights. (3) No spotlight or auxiliary lamp shall be so aimed upon approaching another vehicle that any part of the high intensity portion of the beam therefrom is directed beyond the left side of the motor vehicle upon which the spotlight or auxiliary lamp is mounted, nor more than one hundred feet (100') ahead of the motor vehicle.
(1) Every motor vehicle other than a motorcycle, road roller, road machinery or farm tractor shall be equipped with at least two (2) and not more than four (4) headlights, with at least one (1) on each side of the front of the motor vehicle. No nonemergency vehicle shall operate or install emergency flashing light systems, such as strobe, wig-wag, or other flashing lights within the headlight assembly or grill area of the vehicle; provided, however, that a school bus may operate a flashing, wig-wag lighting system within the headlight assembly of the vehicle when the vehicle's visual stop signs are actuated for receiving or discharging school children.
(2) Auxiliary road lighting lamps may be used, but not more than two (2) of the lamps shall be lighted at any one (1) time in addition to the two (2) required headlights.
(3) No spotlight or auxiliary lamp shall be so aimed upon approaching another vehicle that any part of the high intensity portion of the beam therefrom is directed beyond the left side of the motor vehicle upon which the spotlight or auxiliary lamp is mounted, nor more than one hundred feet (100') ahead of the motor vehicle.
(b) (1) Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with two (2) red tail lamps and two (2) red stoplights on the rear of the vehicle, and one (1) tail lamp and one (1) stoplight shall be on each side, except that passenger cars manufactured or assembled prior to January 1, 1939, trucks manufactured or assembled prior to January 1, 1968, and motorcycles and motorscooters shall have at least one (1) red tail lamp and one (1) red stoplight. No nonemergency vehicle shall operate or install emergency flashing light systems such as strobe, wig-wag, or other flashing lights in tail light lamp, stoplight area, or factory installed emergency flasher and backup light area; provided, however, that the foregoing prohibition shall not apply to the utilization of a continuously flashing light system. For the purposes of this part, "continuously flashing light system" means a brake light system in which the brake lamp pulses rapidly for no more than five (5) seconds when the brake is applied, and then converts to a continuous light as a normal brake lamp until the time that the brake is released. (2) The stoplight shall be so arranged as to be actuated by the application of the service or foot brake and shall be capable of being seen and distinguished from a distance of one hundred feet (100') to the rear of a motor vehicle in normal daylight, but shall not project a glaring or dazzling light. (3) The stoplight may be incorporated with the tail lamp. (4) Motor vehicle tail light lamps may operate as following: (A) A white backup light operates when the motor vehicle is in reverse; (B) When the driver is in a panic stop condition going forward, the backup lamp pulses or flashes red; and (C) Upon normal stops of the motor vehicle, there is no action by the backup light.
(1) Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with two (2) red tail lamps and two (2) red stoplights on the rear of the vehicle, and one (1) tail lamp and one (1) stoplight shall be on each side, except that passenger cars manufactured or assembled prior to January 1, 1939, trucks manufactured or assembled prior to January 1, 1968, and motorcycles and motorscooters shall have at least one (1) red tail lamp and one (1) red stoplight. No nonemergency vehicle shall operate or install emergency flashing light systems such as strobe, wig-wag, or other flashing lights in tail light lamp, stoplight area, or factory installed emergency flasher and backup light area; provided, however, that the foregoing prohibition shall not apply to the utilization of a continuously flashing light system. For the purposes of this part, "continuously flashing light system" means a brake light system in which the brake lamp pulses rapidly for no more than five (5) seconds when the brake is applied, and then converts to a continuous light as a normal brake lamp until the time that the brake is released.
(2) The stoplight shall be so arranged as to be actuated by the application of the service or foot brake and shall be capable of being seen and distinguished from a distance of one hundred feet (100') to the rear of a motor vehicle in normal daylight, but shall not project a glaring or dazzling light.
(3) The stoplight may be incorporated with the tail lamp.
(4) Motor vehicle tail light lamps may operate as following: (A) A white backup light operates when the motor vehicle is in reverse; (B) When the driver is in a panic stop condition going forward, the backup lamp pulses or flashes red; and (C) Upon normal stops of the motor vehicle, there is no action by the backup light.
(A) A white backup light operates when the motor vehicle is in reverse;
(B) When the driver is in a panic stop condition going forward, the backup lamp pulses or flashes red; and
(C) Upon normal stops of the motor vehicle, there is no action by the backup light.
(c) Each lamp and stoplight required in this section shall be in good condition and operational.
(d) (1) No vehicle operated in this state shall be equipped with any flashing lights in any color or combination of colors that display to the front of the vehicle, other than factory installed emergency flashers, except as provided in this section and for the following vehicles: (A) Motorcycle escorts of properly identified funeral processions authorized by § 55-8-183 to display green strobe flashing lights; (B) Vehicles owned by or leased to licensed public or private security services but not personally owned vehicles of security guards may display flashing lights in any color other than red, white, or blue, or in any combination of colors other than red, white, or blue; provided, that the flashing lights authorized by this subdivision (d)(1)(B) for security services vehicles shall not be operated or illuminated while the vehicle is on a public road, in motion or stationary, and shall only be illuminated when patrolling a shopping center or mall parking lot or other private premises or if stopped in a hazardous location for the purposes of warning; (C) A highway maintenance or utility vehicle or recovery vehicle may display flashing white or amber lights or any combination of flashing white and amber lights pursuant to subsection (e); (D) A motor vehicle operated for purposes of an emergency equipment company pursuant to subsection (g) may display flashing red, white, blue, or amber lights or any combination of flashing red, white, blue, and amber lights; provided, that emergency equipment company vehicles shall not display or illuminate the lights authorized by this section while the vehicle is on a public road, whether in motion or stationary; (E) A passenger motor vehicle operated by an organ procurement organization or a person under an agreement with an organ procurement organization may display flashing white or amber lights or flashing white and amber lights in combination when transporting an organ for human transplantation; (F) A school bus, a passenger motor vehicle operated by a rural mail carrier of the United States postal service while performing the duties of a rural mail carrier, or an emergency vehicle used in firefighting, including ambulances, emergency vehicles used in firefighting that are owned or operated by the division of forestry, firefighting vehicles, rescue vehicles, privately owned vehicles of regular or volunteer firefighters certified in § 55-9-201(c) , or other emergency vehicles used in firefighting owned, operated, or subsidized by the governing body of any county or municipality, may display flashing red or white lights or flashing red and white lights in combination; and (G) Authorized law enforcement vehicles and other vehicles authorized by § 55-9-414 to display flashing red, white, and blue lights in combination. (2) Any emergency rescue vehicle owned, titled and operated by a state chartered rescue squad, a member of the Tennessee Association of Rescue Squads, privately owned vehicles of regular or volunteer firefighters certified in § 55-9-201(c) , and marked with lettering at least three inches (3") in size and displayed on the left and right sides of the vehicle designating it an "Emergency Rescue Vehicle," any authorized civil defense emergency vehicle displaying the appropriate civil defense agency markings of at least three inches (3"), any ambulance or vehicle equipped to provide emergency medical services properly licensed as required in the state and displaying the proper markings, and any motor vehicle operated for purposes of an emergency equipment company pursuant to subsection (g); provided, that lights authorized by this subdivision (d)(2) for such emergency equipment company vehicle shall not be operated or illuminated while the vehicle is on a public road, whether in motion or stationary, shall also be authorized to be lighted in one (1) or more of the following manners: (A) A red or red/white visibar type with public address system; (B) A red or red/white oscillating type light; and (C) Blinking red or red/white lights, front and rear. (3) No vehicle operated in this state shall be equipped with any steady-burning lights that display to the front of the vehicle in any color other than white or amber or in any combination of colors other than white and amber, except for the following vehicles: (A) A vehicle equipped with headlamps, daytime running lamps, or other similar devices in any color or combination of colors between white and amber authorized by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, as adopted by the national highway traffic safety administration and compiled in 49 CFR 571.108 ; (B) A motor vehicle operated for purposes of an emergency equipment company may display steady-burning red, white, blue, or amber lights, or any combination of steady-burning red, white, blue, and amber lights pursuant to subsection (g); provided, that emergency equipment company vehicles shall not display or illuminate the lights authorized by this section while the vehicle is on a public road, whether in motion or stationary; (C) A school bus, a passenger motor vehicle operated by a rural mail carrier of the United States postal service while performing the duties of a rural mail carrier, or an emergency vehicle used in firefighting, including ambulances, emergency vehicles used in firefighting that are owned or operated by the division of forestry, firefighting vehicles, rescue vehicles, privately owned vehicles of regular or volunteer firefighters certified in § 55-9-201(c) , or other emergency vehicles used in firefighting owned, operated, or subsidized by the governing body of any county or municipality, may display steady-burning red lights; (D) Authorized law enforcement vehicles and other vehicles listed in § 55-9-414 may display steady-burning red, white, and blue lights in combination; and (E) A personal vehicle operated by a transportation network company driver may display one (1) or more removable, illuminated, interior trade dress devices in any color other than red or blue, or in any combination of colors other than red or blue, that is issued by a transportation network company and that assists passengers in identifying and communicating with transportation network company drivers. The illuminated display on such a device shall not exceed five (5) candlepower.
(1) No vehicle operated in this state shall be equipped with any flashing lights in any color or combination of colors that display to the front of the vehicle, other than factory installed emergency flashers, except as provided in this section and for the following vehicles: (A) Motorcycle escorts of properly identified funeral processions authorized by § 55-8-183 to display green strobe flashing lights; (B) Vehicles owned by or leased to licensed public or private security services but not personally owned vehicles of security guards may display flashing lights in any color other than red, white, or blue, or in any combination of colors other than red, white, or blue; provided, that the flashing lights authorized by this subdivision (d)(1)(B) for security services vehicles shall not be operated or illuminated while the vehicle is on a public road, in motion or stationary, and shall only be illuminated when patrolling a shopping center or mall parking lot or other private premises or if stopped in a hazardous location for the purposes of warning; (C) A highway maintenance or utility vehicle or recovery vehicle may display flashing white or amber lights or any combination of flashing white and amber lights pursuant to subsection (e); (D) A motor vehicle operated for purposes of an emergency equipment company pursuant to subsection (g) may display flashing red, white, blue, or amber lights or any combination of flashing red, white, blue, and amber lights; provided, that emergency equipment company vehicles shall not display or illuminate the lights authorized by this section while the vehicle is on a public road, whether in motion or stationary; (E) A passenger motor vehicle operated by an organ procurement organization or a person under an agreement with an organ procurement organization may display flashing white or amber lights or flashing white and amber lights in combination when transporting an organ for human transplantation; (F) A school bus, a passenger motor vehicle operated by a rural mail carrier of the United States postal service while performing the duties of a rural mail carrier, or an emergency vehicle used in firefighting, including ambulances, emergency vehicles used in firefighting that are owned or operated by the division of forestry, firefighting vehicles, rescue vehicles, privately owned vehicles of regular or volunteer firefighters certified in § 55-9-201(c) , or other emergency vehicles used in firefighting owned, operated, or subsidized by the governing body of any county or municipality, may display flashing red or white lights or flashing red and white lights in combination; and (G) Authorized law enforcement vehicles and other vehicles authorized by § 55-9-414 to display flashing red, white, and blue lights in combination.
(A) Motorcycle escorts of properly identified funeral processions authorized by § 55-8-183 to display green strobe flashing lights;
(B) Vehicles owned by or leased to licensed public or private security services but not personally owned vehicles of security guards may display flashing lights in any color other than red, white, or blue, or in any combination of colors other than red, white, or blue; provided, that the flashing lights authorized by this subdivision (d)(1)(B) for security services vehicles shall not be operated or illuminated while the vehicle is on a public road, in motion or stationary, and shall only be illuminated when patrolling a shopping center or mall parking lot or other private premises or if stopped in a hazardous location for the purposes of warning;
(C) A highway maintenance or utility vehicle or recovery vehicle may display flashing white or amber lights or any combination of flashing white and amber lights pursuant to subsection (e);
(D) A motor vehicle operated for purposes of an emergency equipment company pursuant to subsection (g) may display flashing red, white, blue, or amber lights or any combination of flashing red, white, blue, and amber lights; provided, that emergency equipment company vehicles shall not display or illuminate the lights authorized by this section while the vehicle is on a public road, whether in motion or stationary;
(E) A passenger motor vehicle operated by an organ procurement organization or a person under an agreement with an organ procurement organization may display flashing white or amber lights or flashing white and amber lights in combination when transporting an organ for human transplantation;
(F) A school bus, a passenger motor vehicle operated by a rural mail carrier of the United States postal service while performing the duties of a rural mail carrier, or an emergency vehicle used in firefighting, including ambulances, emergency vehicles used in firefighting that are owned or operated by the division of forestry, firefighting vehicles, rescue vehicles, privately owned vehicles of regular or volunteer firefighters certified in § 55-9-201(c) , or other emergency vehicles used in firefighting owned, operated, or subsidized by the governing body of any county or municipality, may display flashing red or white lights or flashing red and white lights in combination; and
(G) Authorized law enforcement vehicles and other vehicles authorized by § 55-9-414 to display flashing red, white, and blue lights in combination.
(2) Any emergency rescue vehicle owned, titled and operated by a state chartered rescue squad, a member of the Tennessee Association of Rescue Squads, privately owned vehicles of regular or volunteer firefighters certified in § 55-9-201(c) , and marked with lettering at least three inches (3") in size and displayed on the left and right sides of the vehicle designating it an "Emergency Rescue Vehicle," any authorized civil defense emergency vehicle displaying the appropriate civil defense agency markings of at least three inches (3"), any ambulance or vehicle equipped to provide emergency medical services properly licensed as required in the state and displaying the proper markings, and any motor vehicle operated for purposes of an emergency equipment company pursuant to subsection (g); provided, that lights authorized by this subdivision (d)(2) for such emergency equipment company vehicle shall not be operated or illuminated while the vehicle is on a public road, whether in motion or stationary, shall also be authorized to be lighted in one (1) or more of the following manners: (A) A red or red/white visibar type with public address system; (B) A red or red/white oscillating type light; and (C) Blinking red or red/white lights, front and rear.
(A) A red or red/white visibar type with public address system;
(B) A red or red/white oscillating type light; and
(C) Blinking red or red/white lights, front and rear.
(3) No vehicle operated in this state shall be equipped with any steady-burning lights that display to the front of the vehicle in any color other than white or amber or in any combination of colors other than white and amber, except for the following vehicles: (A) A vehicle equipped with headlamps, daytime running lamps, or other similar devices in any color or combination of colors between white and amber authorized by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, as adopted by the national highway traffic safety administration and compiled in 49 CFR 571.108 ; (B) A motor vehicle operated for purposes of an emergency equipment company may display steady-burning red, white, blue, or amber lights, or any combination of steady-burning red, white, blue, and amber lights pursuant to subsection (g); provided, that emergency equipment company vehicles shall not display or illuminate the lights authorized by this section while the vehicle is on a public road, whether in motion or stationary; (C) A school bus, a passenger motor vehicle operated by a rural mail carrier of the United States postal service while performing the duties of a rural mail carrier, or an emergency vehicle used in firefighting, including ambulances, emergency vehicles used in firefighting that are owned or operated by the division of forestry, firefighting vehicles, rescue vehicles, privately owned vehicles of regular or volunteer firefighters certified in § 55-9-201(c) , or other emergency vehicles used in firefighting owned, operated, or subsidized by the governing body of any county or municipality, may display steady-burning red lights; (D) Authorized law enforcement vehicles and other vehicles listed in § 55-9-414 may display steady-burning red, white, and blue lights in combination; and (E) A personal vehicle operated by a transportation network company driver may display one (1) or more removable, illuminated, interior trade dress devices in any color other than red or blue, or in any combination of colors other than red or blue, that is issued by a transportation network company and that assists passengers in identifying and communicating with transportation network company drivers. The illuminated display on such a device shall not exceed five (5) candlepower.
(A) A vehicle equipped with headlamps, daytime running lamps, or other similar devices in any color or combination of colors between white and amber authorized by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, as adopted by the national highway traffic safety administration and compiled in 49 CFR 571.108 ;
(B) A motor vehicle operated for purposes of an emergency equipment company may display steady-burning red, white, blue, or amber lights, or any combination of steady-burning red, white, blue, and amber lights pursuant to subsection (g); provided, that emergency equipment company vehicles shall not display or illuminate the lights authorized by this section while the vehicle is on a public road, whether in motion or stationary;
(C) A school bus, a passenger motor vehicle operated by a rural mail carrier of the United States postal service while performing the duties of a rural mail carrier, or an emergency vehicle used in firefighting, including ambulances, emergency vehicles used in firefighting that are owned or operated by the division of forestry, firefighting vehicles, rescue vehicles, privately owned vehicles of regular or volunteer firefighters certified in § 55-9-201(c) , or other emergency vehicles used in firefighting owned, operated, or subsidized by the governing body of any county or municipality, may display steady-burning red lights;
(D) Authorized law enforcement vehicles and other vehicles listed in § 55-9-414 may display steady-burning red, white, and blue lights in combination; and
(E) A personal vehicle operated by a transportation network company driver may display one (1) or more removable, illuminated, interior trade dress devices in any color other than red or blue, or in any combination of colors other than red or blue, that is issued by a transportation network company and that assists passengers in identifying and communicating with transportation network company drivers. The illuminated display on such a device shall not exceed five (5) candlepower.
(e) (1) (A) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, nothing in this section shall prohibit a highway maintenance or utility vehicle, or any other type vehicle or equipment participating, in any fashion, with highway or utility construction, maintenance, or inspection, from operating a white, amber, or white and amber light system on any location on the vehicle or equipment while the vehicle or equipment is parked upon, entering or leaving any highway or utility construction, maintenance, repair or inspection site. (B) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a recovery vehicle designed for towing a disabled vehicle, as defined in § 55-8-132 , while in the performance of duties involved with towing an abandoned, immobile, disabled or unattended motor vehicle is authorized to display an amber light that is a strobe, flashing, oscillating or revolving system or any combination of white and amber lights. Such authorized light or lights may be displayed on any location on the vehicle or equipment, other than within the headlight assembly or grill area of the vehicle, in the tail light lamp or stoplight area, or factory installed emergency flasher and backup light area. (C) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, an implement of husbandry, as defined in § 55-1-108 , and a vehicle used to escort an implement of husbandry is authorized to display a white, amber, or white and amber light system on any location on the implement of husbandry or escort vehicle while the implement or vehicle is on a public road, whether in motion or stationary. (2) As used in this subsection (e), "utility" means any person, municipality, county, metropolitan government, cooperative, board, commission, district, or any entity created or authorized by public act, private act, or general law to provide electricity, natural gas, water, waste water services, telephone service, or any combination thereof, for sale to consumers in any particular service area. (3) As used in subdivision (e)(2), "cooperative" means any cooperative providing utility services including, but not limited to, electric or telephone services, or both. (4) Nothing in this subsection (e) imposes any duty or obligation to install or utilize the lighting systems allowed in this section.
(1) (A) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, nothing in this section shall prohibit a highway maintenance or utility vehicle, or any other type vehicle or equipment participating, in any fashion, with highway or utility construction, maintenance, or inspection, from operating a white, amber, or white and amber light system on any location on the vehicle or equipment while the vehicle or equipment is parked upon, entering or leaving any highway or utility construction, maintenance, repair or inspection site. (B) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a recovery vehicle designed for towing a disabled vehicle, as defined in § 55-8-132 , while in the performance of duties involved with towing an abandoned, immobile, disabled or unattended motor vehicle is authorized to display an amber light that is a strobe, flashing, oscillating or revolving system or any combination of white and amber lights. Such authorized light or lights may be displayed on any location on the vehicle or equipment, other than within the headlight assembly or grill area of the vehicle, in the tail light lamp or stoplight area, or factory installed emergency flasher and backup light area. (C) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, an implement of husbandry, as defined in § 55-1-108 , and a vehicle used to escort an implement of husbandry is authorized to display a white, amber, or white and amber light system on any location on the implement of husbandry or escort vehicle while the implement or vehicle is on a public road, whether in motion or stationary.
(A) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, nothing in this section shall prohibit a highway maintenance or utility vehicle, or any other type vehicle or equipment participating, in any fashion, with highway or utility construction, maintenance, or inspection, from operating a white, amber, or white and amber light system on any location on the vehicle or equipment while the vehicle or equipment is parked upon, entering or leaving any highway or utility construction, maintenance, repair or inspection site.
(B) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a recovery vehicle designed for towing a disabled vehicle, as defined in § 55-8-132 , while in the performance of duties involved with towing an abandoned, immobile, disabled or unattended motor vehicle is authorized to display an amber light that is a strobe, flashing, oscillating or revolving system or any combination of white and amber lights. Such authorized light or lights may be displayed on any location on the vehicle or equipment, other than within the headlight assembly or grill area of the vehicle, in the tail light lamp or stoplight area, or factory installed emergency flasher and backup light area.
(C) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, an implement of husbandry, as defined in § 55-1-108 , and a vehicle used to escort an implement of husbandry is authorized to display a white, amber, or white and amber light system on any location on the implement of husbandry or escort vehicle while the implement or vehicle is on a public road, whether in motion or stationary.
(2) As used in this subsection (e), "utility" means any person, municipality, county, metropolitan government, cooperative, board, commission, district, or any entity created or authorized by public act, private act, or general law to provide electricity, natural gas, water, waste water services, telephone service, or any combination thereof, for sale to consumers in any particular service area.
(3) As used in subdivision (e)(2), "cooperative" means any cooperative providing utility services including, but not limited to, electric or telephone services, or both.
(4) Nothing in this subsection (e) imposes any duty or obligation to install or utilize the lighting systems allowed in this section.
(f) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, nothing in this section shall prohibit a motor vehicle used for the driver education and training course for Class D vehicles as provided by § 55-50-322(f) from operating an amber light-emitting diode (LED) light system on the front and rear of such vehicle other than in the taillight lamp, stoplight area, or factory-installed emergency flasher and backup light area. The amber light-emitting diode light system shall not be placed in the driver's line of sight. Nothing in this subsection (f) imposes any duty or obligation to install or utilize the lighting system allowed in this subsection (f).
(g) (1) The prohibitions in subdivisions (a)(1) and (b)(1), and subsection (d) do not apply to any privately-owned motor vehicle that is primarily operated for business purposes by any salesperson, service representative, employee, lessee, or duly authorized agent of an emergency equipment company; provided, that the vehicle is marked with the lettering required by subdivision (g)(3). (2) Any person operating a motor vehicle pursuant to this subsection (g) shall carry a copy of the company's business license or the person's or owner of the company's professional or occupational license, certification or registration issued by this state and appropriate identification issued by the owner of the company. (3) Lettering shall be displayed on the left and right sides of the vehicle identifying the name of the company for which the vehicle is operated and on the front and rear of the vehicle designating it a "Demonstration Vehicle." The lettering shall be painted or affixed on, or attached to, the vehicle in a permanent manner, and shall be at least three inches (3") in size. (4) Nothing in this subsection (g) imposes any duty or obligation on a manufacturer of motor vehicles used by or sold to emergency equipment companies to install, maintain or exhibit the lighting system allowed in this subsection (g) at the time of manufacture or sale. (5) Nothing in this subsection (g) shall be construed to permit the operator of an emergency equipment company vehicle from operating any lighting equipment authorized by this subsection (g) while the vehicle is on a public road, whether in motion or stationary. (6) As used in this section, "emergency equipment company" or "company" means any entity licensed as required by this state to sell or repair lighting equipment designed for use on motor vehicles that are operated for authorized law enforcement, emergency response, or other public safety activities.
(1) The prohibitions in subdivisions (a)(1) and (b)(1), and subsection (d) do not apply to any privately-owned motor vehicle that is primarily operated for business purposes by any salesperson, service representative, employee, lessee, or duly authorized agent of an emergency equipment company; provided, that the vehicle is marked with the lettering required by subdivision (g)(3).
(2) Any person operating a motor vehicle pursuant to this subsection (g) shall carry a copy of the company's business license or the person's or owner of the company's professional or occupational license, certification or registration issued by this state and appropriate identification issued by the owner of the company.
(3) Lettering shall be displayed on the left and right sides of the vehicle identifying the name of the company for which the vehicle is operated and on the front and rear of the vehicle designating it a "Demonstration Vehicle." The lettering shall be painted or affixed on, or attached to, the vehicle in a permanent manner, and shall be at least three inches (3") in size.
(4) Nothing in this subsection (g) imposes any duty or obligation on a manufacturer of motor vehicles used by or sold to emergency equipment companies to install, maintain or exhibit the lighting system allowed in this subsection (g) at the time of manufacture or sale.
(5) Nothing in this subsection (g) shall be construed to permit the operator of an emergency equipment company vehicle from operating any lighting equipment authorized by this subsection (g) while the vehicle is on a public road, whether in motion or stationary.
(6) As used in this section, "emergency equipment company" or "company" means any entity licensed as required by this state to sell or repair lighting equipment designed for use on motor vehicles that are operated for authorized law enforcement, emergency response, or other public safety activities.
(h) A violation of this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 100, s 11, eff. 7/1/2024.
Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 645, s 1, eff. 4/2/2018.
Amended by 2017 Tenn. Acts, ch. 378, Secs.s 2, s 3 eff. 1/1/2018.
Amended by 2017 Tenn. Acts, ch. 378, s 1, eff. 1/1/2018.
Amended by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 710, s 3, Sec.s 4, s 5 eff. 7/1/2014.
Amended by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 710, s 2, eff. 7/1/2014.
Acts 1931, ch. 82, § 15; 1937, ch. 245, § 5; 1941, ch. 121, § 1; C. Supp. 1950, § 2700.16 (Williams, § 2695); Acts 1957, ch. 51, § 1; 1969, ch. 40, § 1; 1970, ch. 598, § 1; 1975, ch. 342, § 1; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 59-905; Acts 1981, ch. 111, §§ 1, 2; 1982, ch. 850, § 3; 1989, ch. 173, §§ 2, 3; 1989, ch. 591, § 113; 1991, ch. 221, § 1; 1997 , ch. 299, §§ 1-5; 2003 , ch. 67, § 1; 2004, ch. 474, § 1; 2005, ch. 154, §§ 1 - 4; 2006, ch. 584, §§ 1, 2; 2008 , ch. 967, § 2; 2010 , ch. 938, § 1; 2011 , ch. 137, §§ 1, 2; 2012 , ch. 733, §§ 1-3.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-104 — TN Code / Title 55 / Chapter 12 / Section 55-12-104
Report of accident required - Suspension of registration or operating privileges for failure to report - Restoration - Access to information
Status: in_force

(a) (1) The operator of a motor vehicle that is in any manner involved in an accident within this state in which any person is killed or injured, or in which damage to the property of any one (1) person, including the operator, in excess of one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) is sustained, shall report the matter in writing to the commissioner within twenty (20) days after the occurrence of the accident. If the operator fails or is physically incapable of making the report, the owner of the motor vehicle involved in the accident shall, upon learning of the accident, report the matter in writing to the commissioner. The operator or the owner shall make other and additional reports relating to the accident as the commissioner shall require. (2) If an accident results in damage to state or local government property in excess of four hundred dollars ($400), then the driver of the vehicle involved in the accident shall file a written report in accordance with subdivision (a)(1). (b) The form of the accident report required under this section shall contain information sufficient to enable the commissioner to determine whether the requirements for the deposit of security under this part are inapplicable by reason of the existence of insurance or other exceptions specified in this part. The commissioner may rely upon the accuracy of the information, unless and until there is reason to believe that the information is erroneous. (c) If a report of the accident is not received by the commissioner of safety within twenty (20) days, as required by subsection (a), the commissioner may issue a notice of suspension of the operator's license and, immediately upon request by the commissioner of safety, the commissioner of revenue shall issue a notice of suspension of the registration of the motor vehicle involved. Notices of the suspension of the operator's license and the motor vehicle's registration shall be sent by United States mail not less than twenty (20) days prior to the effective date of suspension. Each notice shall state that the vehicle's operator or owner, or both, are entitled to an administrative hearing held by the commissioner of safety, or the commissioner's delegate, pursuant to a request under § 55-12-103(a) . The commissioner of safety shall suspend the license or nonresident operating privileges, and shall request that the commissioner of revenue suspend the motor vehicle registration of any person involved in an accident as a motor vehicle operator or owner in this state who willfully fails, refuses or neglects to make or have filed an accident report on that person's behalf. A person whose motor vehicle operating privileges have been so suspended may obtain restoration of driving privileges by filing a report of the accident and paying a restoration fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) to the commissioner of safety. If the registration of the motor vehicle involved in the accident has been suspended, upon receipt of that payment, the commissioner of safety shall request that the commissioner of revenue reinstate the motor vehicle owner's registration and, upon payment to the commissioner of revenue of the appropriate motor vehicle registration fees provided by § 55-4-111 , § 55-4-112 or § 55-4-113 , the registration shall be reinstated immediately. (d) The requirements of this section in regard to the filing of the accident report shall not apply to: (1) Vehicles owned by the United States, this state, or any political subdivision of this state or any municipality therein; or the operator of any vehicle so owned, when the vehicle is involved in an accident; (2) The owner or operator of any vehicle where there is no physical contact with another vehicle or object or person; or (3) The owner of a vehicle that at the time of the accident was parked, unless the vehicle was parked at a place where parking at the time of the accident was prohibited under any applicable law or ordinance. (e) At any time after five (5) years from the date of suspension, the department of safety may, in its own discretion, or upon request of the person required to file an accident report, withdraw the suspension of the driver's operating privileges and the commissioner of revenue, upon request by the commissioner of safety and upon payment to the commissioner of revenue of the appropriate motor vehicle registration fees provided by § 55-4-111 , § 55- 4-112 or § 55-4-113 , shall immediately reinstate the motor vehicle owner's registration; provided, that the records of the department of safety establish that the person, during the preceding five (5) years, has not been convicted of any offense authorizing or requiring suspension, revocation, prohibition, or cancellation of a license or registration upon order of the department or a court arising from a conviction for a violation of the law. (f) (1) Parties involved in an accident that is reported to the department as required in subsection (a) shall be permitted to obtain a copy of any document on file with the department that contains proof of financial responsibility that has been filed by other involved parties in the same accident. (2) Requests for these documents shall be made in writing by the individual seeking the information on a form supplied by the department. Only one (1) document may be received for each form received, and each request shall be accompanied by a fee of five dollars ($5.00), payable to the department. (3) In no event shall the information supplied by the department include policy limits. (g) The owner of an ADS-operated vehicle, as defined by § 55-30-102 , is solely responsible for compliance with the requirements for filing the accident report under subsection (a). Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 555,s 7, eff. 1/1/2019. Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 555,s 3, eff. 1/1/2019. Amended by 2017 Tenn. Acts, ch. 474,s 14, eff. 6/6/2017. Acts 1977, ch. 446, § 4; T.C.A., § 59-1254; Acts 1986, ch. 842, §§ 17, 28; 1988, ch. 806, § 1; 1989, ch. 263, § 3; 1990, ch. 821, § 1; 2007, ch. 484, § 79.
(a) (1) The operator of a motor vehicle that is in any manner involved in an accident within this state in which any person is killed or injured, or in which damage to the property of any one (1) person, including the operator, in excess of one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) is sustained, shall report the matter in writing to the commissioner within twenty (20) days after the occurrence of the accident. If the operator fails or is physically incapable of making the report, the owner of the motor vehicle involved in the accident shall, upon learning of the accident, report the matter in writing to the commissioner. The operator or the owner shall make other and additional reports relating to the accident as the commissioner shall require. (2) If an accident results in damage to state or local government property in excess of four hundred dollars ($400), then the driver of the vehicle involved in the accident shall file a written report in accordance with subdivision (a)(1).
(1) The operator of a motor vehicle that is in any manner involved in an accident within this state in which any person is killed or injured, or in which damage to the property of any one (1) person, including the operator, in excess of one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) is sustained, shall report the matter in writing to the commissioner within twenty (20) days after the occurrence of the accident. If the operator fails or is physically incapable of making the report, the owner of the motor vehicle involved in the accident shall, upon learning of the accident, report the matter in writing to the commissioner. The operator or the owner shall make other and additional reports relating to the accident as the commissioner shall require.
(2) If an accident results in damage to state or local government property in excess of four hundred dollars ($400), then the driver of the vehicle involved in the accident shall file a written report in accordance with subdivision (a)(1).
(b) The form of the accident report required under this section shall contain information sufficient to enable the commissioner to determine whether the requirements for the deposit of security under this part are inapplicable by reason of the existence of insurance or other exceptions specified in this part. The commissioner may rely upon the accuracy of the information, unless and until there is reason to believe that the information is erroneous.
(c) If a report of the accident is not received by the commissioner of safety within twenty (20) days, as required by subsection (a), the commissioner may issue a notice of suspension of the operator's license and, immediately upon request by the commissioner of safety, the commissioner of revenue shall issue a notice of suspension of the registration of the motor vehicle involved. Notices of the suspension of the operator's license and the motor vehicle's registration shall be sent by United States mail not less than twenty (20) days prior to the effective date of suspension. Each notice shall state that the vehicle's operator or owner, or both, are entitled to an administrative hearing held by the commissioner of safety, or the commissioner's delegate, pursuant to a request under § 55-12-103(a) . The commissioner of safety shall suspend the license or nonresident operating privileges, and shall request that the commissioner of revenue suspend the motor vehicle registration of any person involved in an accident as a motor vehicle operator or owner in this state who willfully fails, refuses or neglects to make or have filed an accident report on that person's behalf. A person whose motor vehicle operating privileges have been so suspended may obtain restoration of driving privileges by filing a report of the accident and paying a restoration fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) to the commissioner of safety. If the registration of the motor vehicle involved in the accident has been suspended, upon receipt of that payment, the commissioner of safety shall request that the commissioner of revenue reinstate the motor vehicle owner's registration and, upon payment to the commissioner of revenue of the appropriate motor vehicle registration fees provided by § 55-4-111 , § 55-4-112 or § 55-4-113 , the registration shall be reinstated immediately.
(d) The requirements of this section in regard to the filing of the accident report shall not apply to: (1) Vehicles owned by the United States, this state, or any political subdivision of this state or any municipality therein; or the operator of any vehicle so owned, when the vehicle is involved in an accident; (2) The owner or operator of any vehicle where there is no physical contact with another vehicle or object or person; or (3) The owner of a vehicle that at the time of the accident was parked, unless the vehicle was parked at a place where parking at the time of the accident was prohibited under any applicable law or ordinance.
(1) Vehicles owned by the United States, this state, or any political subdivision of this state or any municipality therein; or the operator of any vehicle so owned, when the vehicle is involved in an accident;
(2) The owner or operator of any vehicle where there is no physical contact with another vehicle or object or person; or
(3) The owner of a vehicle that at the time of the accident was parked, unless the vehicle was parked at a place where parking at the time of the accident was prohibited under any applicable law or ordinance.
(e) At any time after five (5) years from the date of suspension, the department of safety may, in its own discretion, or upon request of the person required to file an accident report, withdraw the suspension of the driver's operating privileges and the commissioner of revenue, upon request by the commissioner of safety and upon payment to the commissioner of revenue of the appropriate motor vehicle registration fees provided by § 55-4-111 , § 55- 4-112 or § 55-4-113 , shall immediately reinstate the motor vehicle owner's registration; provided, that the records of the department of safety establish that the person, during the preceding five (5) years, has not been convicted of any offense authorizing or requiring suspension, revocation, prohibition, or cancellation of a license or registration upon order of the department or a court arising from a conviction for a violation of the law.
(f) (1) Parties involved in an accident that is reported to the department as required in subsection (a) shall be permitted to obtain a copy of any document on file with the department that contains proof of financial responsibility that has been filed by other involved parties in the same accident. (2) Requests for these documents shall be made in writing by the individual seeking the information on a form supplied by the department. Only one (1) document may be received for each form received, and each request shall be accompanied by a fee of five dollars ($5.00), payable to the department. (3) In no event shall the information supplied by the department include policy limits.
(1) Parties involved in an accident that is reported to the department as required in subsection (a) shall be permitted to obtain a copy of any document on file with the department that contains proof of financial responsibility that has been filed by other involved parties in the same accident.
(2) Requests for these documents shall be made in writing by the individual seeking the information on a form supplied by the department. Only one (1) document may be received for each form received, and each request shall be accompanied by a fee of five dollars ($5.00), payable to the department.
(3) In no event shall the information supplied by the department include policy limits.
(g) The owner of an ADS-operated vehicle, as defined by § 55-30-102 , is solely responsible for compliance with the requirements for filing the accident report under subsection (a).
Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 555,s 7, eff. 1/1/2019.
Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 555,s 3, eff. 1/1/2019.
Amended by 2017 Tenn. Acts, ch. 474,s 14, eff. 6/6/2017.
Acts 1977, ch. 446, § 4; T.C.A., § 59-1254; Acts 1986, ch. 842, §§ 17, 28; 1988, ch. 806, § 1; 1989, ch. 263, § 3; 1990, ch. 821, § 1; 2007, ch. 484, § 79.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-12-142 — TN Code / Title 55 / Chapter 12 / Section 55-12-142
Notification to delivery driver that insurance may not cover commercial uses
Status: in_force

An entity that employs, or contracts with, a driver who uses the driver's personal vehicle for the delivery of the entity's goods or services, and that does not provide automobile insurance coverage to the driver, must, at the time of hire, provide written notification to the driver that: (1) Requires the driver's signature; (2) Informs the driver that the driver's automobile insurance may not cover commercial uses; and (3) Recommends that the driver check with the driver's insurance provider as to whether commercial uses of the driver's personal vehicle are covered. Added by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 801, s 1, eff. 4/8/2022.
An entity that employs, or contracts with, a driver who uses the driver's personal vehicle for the delivery of the entity's goods or services, and that does not provide automobile insurance coverage to the driver, must, at the time of hire, provide written notification to the driver that:
(1) Requires the driver's signature;
(2) Informs the driver that the driver's automobile insurance may not cover commercial uses; and
(3) Recommends that the driver check with the driver's insurance provider as to whether commercial uses of the driver's personal vehicle are covered.
Added by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 801, s 1, eff. 4/8/2022.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-50-501 — TN Code / Title 55 / Chapter 50 / Section 55-50-501
Mandatory revocation of licenses - Causes - Suspension of license until judgment for personal or property damage paid
Status: in_force

(a) The department shall forthwith revoke the license of any operator or chauffeur upon receiving a record of the operator's or chauffeur's conviction of any of the following offenses, when the conviction has become final: (1) Manslaughter resulting from the operation of a motor vehicle. The period of revocation in this instance shall extend for the term of the sentence received by the convicted person. If the person is released on parole prior to the end of the sentence, an operator's license may be reissued on petition of the person's probation and parole officer and upon satisfactory completion of a complete licensing examination, subject to the approval of the commissioner. In the case of a conviction for vehicular homicide, the department shall revoke the license for the period of time the court prohibited the person from driving a vehicle pursuant to § 39-13-213(c) ; (2) Driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant, or while under the influence of narcotic drugs, or while under the influence of drugs producing stimulating effects on the central nervous system. For the purpose of this section, "drugs producing stimulating effects on the central nervous system" includes the salts of barbituric acid, also known as malonyl urea, or any compound, derivatives, or mixtures thereof that may be used for producing hypnotic or somnifacient effects, and includes amphetamine, desoxyephedrine or compounds or mixtures thereof, including all derivatives of phenolethylamine or any of the salts thereof, except preparations intended for use in the nose and unfit for internal use; (3) Any felony in the commission of which a motor vehicle is used; (4) Failure to stop and render aid as required under the laws of this state in the event of a motor vehicle accident resulting in the death or personal injury of another; (5) Knowingly displaying or causing or permitting to be displayed or having in possession any cancelled, revoked, suspended, fictitious or fraudulently altered operator's or chauffeur's license, or displaying or representing as one's own any operator's or chauffeur's license not issued to the person or using a false or fictitious name in any application for an operator's or chauffeur's license, or knowingly making a false statement, or knowingly concealing a material fact, or otherwise committing a fraud in any such application, or willfully making a false statement to the division under any law relating to the ownership, application or renewal of a motor vehicle operator's or chauffeur's license; (6) Conviction, or forfeiture of bail not vacated, upon two (2) charges of reckless driving committed within a period of twelve (12) months; (7) Possession by a driver of five (5) or more grams of methamphetamine, as scheduled in § 39-17-408(d)(2) while operating a motor vehicle in this state. A motor vehicle is in operation if its engine is operating, whether or not the motor vehicle is moving; or (8) Conviction of violating an out-of-service order and failure to pay a civil penalty assessed by the department under § 55-50-405 . (b) In the event any final judgment for damages to property or personal injury resulting from the negligent operation of any motor vehicle is recovered, and in the event the final judgment is not fully paid, satisfied and discharged within sixty (60) days from the date the judgment becomes final, the department shall forthwith suspend the license of any chauffeur or operator of the motor vehicle against whom the judgment was rendered; and the license shall not be restored to the operator of the vehicle until the final judgment has been fully paid, discharged and satisfied. (c) The commissioner shall revoke the license of any operator or chauffeur upon receiving the record of the operator's or chauffeur's conviction of the theft of a motor vehicle or any part thereof; and the commissioner shall not consider the convicted person's application for reinstatement for the revoked license until the expiration of the full term of the sentence imposed, whether served during actual imprisonment, probation, parole or suspension. It shall be grounds for the revocation of any such person's parole or probation if the person operates a motor vehicle while the person's license is in revocation pursuant to this subsection (c). It shall be within the discretion of the trial judge who imposed sentence upon the person convicted of the theft of the motor vehicle or any part thereof to reinstate the person's driver license after a reasonable time. (d) The commissioner shall permanently revoke a school bus endorsement held by any operator or chauffeur upon receiving the record of such operator's or chauffeur's conviction for using a portable electronic device while operating a school bus, as prohibited by § 55-8-192 . Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1036,s 2, eff. 7/1/2016. Acts 1937, ch. 90, § 11; impl. am. Acts 1939, ch. 205, §§ 2, 3; Acts 1939, ch. 205, § 5; C. Supp. 1950, § 2715.19 (Williams, § 2715.24); Acts 1961, ch. 94, § 2; 1968, ch. 428, § 1; 1970, ch. 368, § 1; 1978, ch. 504, § 1; 1978, ch. 660, § 1; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 59-712; Acts 1986, ch. 842, §§ 1, 2; T.C.A., §§ 55-7-112 , 55-7-501; Acts 1998, ch. 1049, § 64; 2005, ch. 209, § 1; 2010, ch. 1005, §§ 1, 2; 2010, ch. 1037, § 10.
(a) The department shall forthwith revoke the license of any operator or chauffeur upon receiving a record of the operator's or chauffeur's conviction of any of the following offenses, when the conviction has become final: (1) Manslaughter resulting from the operation of a motor vehicle. The period of revocation in this instance shall extend for the term of the sentence received by the convicted person. If the person is released on parole prior to the end of the sentence, an operator's license may be reissued on petition of the person's probation and parole officer and upon satisfactory completion of a complete licensing examination, subject to the approval of the commissioner. In the case of a conviction for vehicular homicide, the department shall revoke the license for the period of time the court prohibited the person from driving a vehicle pursuant to § 39-13-213(c) ; (2) Driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant, or while under the influence of narcotic drugs, or while under the influence of drugs producing stimulating effects on the central nervous system. For the purpose of this section, "drugs producing stimulating effects on the central nervous system" includes the salts of barbituric acid, also known as malonyl urea, or any compound, derivatives, or mixtures thereof that may be used for producing hypnotic or somnifacient effects, and includes amphetamine, desoxyephedrine or compounds or mixtures thereof, including all derivatives of phenolethylamine or any of the salts thereof, except preparations intended for use in the nose and unfit for internal use; (3) Any felony in the commission of which a motor vehicle is used; (4) Failure to stop and render aid as required under the laws of this state in the event of a motor vehicle accident resulting in the death or personal injury of another; (5) Knowingly displaying or causing or permitting to be displayed or having in possession any cancelled, revoked, suspended, fictitious or fraudulently altered operator's or chauffeur's license, or displaying or representing as one's own any operator's or chauffeur's license not issued to the person or using a false or fictitious name in any application for an operator's or chauffeur's license, or knowingly making a false statement, or knowingly concealing a material fact, or otherwise committing a fraud in any such application, or willfully making a false statement to the division under any law relating to the ownership, application or renewal of a motor vehicle operator's or chauffeur's license; (6) Conviction, or forfeiture of bail not vacated, upon two (2) charges of reckless driving committed within a period of twelve (12) months; (7) Possession by a driver of five (5) or more grams of methamphetamine, as scheduled in § 39-17-408(d)(2) while operating a motor vehicle in this state. A motor vehicle is in operation if its engine is operating, whether or not the motor vehicle is moving; or (8) Conviction of violating an out-of-service order and failure to pay a civil penalty assessed by the department under § 55-50-405 .
(1) Manslaughter resulting from the operation of a motor vehicle. The period of revocation in this instance shall extend for the term of the sentence received by the convicted person. If the person is released on parole prior to the end of the sentence, an operator's license may be reissued on petition of the person's probation and parole officer and upon satisfactory completion of a complete licensing examination, subject to the approval of the commissioner. In the case of a conviction for vehicular homicide, the department shall revoke the license for the period of time the court prohibited the person from driving a vehicle pursuant to § 39-13-213(c) ;
(2) Driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant, or while under the influence of narcotic drugs, or while under the influence of drugs producing stimulating effects on the central nervous system. For the purpose of this section, "drugs producing stimulating effects on the central nervous system" includes the salts of barbituric acid, also known as malonyl urea, or any compound, derivatives, or mixtures thereof that may be used for producing hypnotic or somnifacient effects, and includes amphetamine, desoxyephedrine or compounds or mixtures thereof, including all derivatives of phenolethylamine or any of the salts thereof, except preparations intended for use in the nose and unfit for internal use;
(3) Any felony in the commission of which a motor vehicle is used;
(4) Failure to stop and render aid as required under the laws of this state in the event of a motor vehicle accident resulting in the death or personal injury of another;
(5) Knowingly displaying or causing or permitting to be displayed or having in possession any cancelled, revoked, suspended, fictitious or fraudulently altered operator's or chauffeur's license, or displaying or representing as one's own any operator's or chauffeur's license not issued to the person or using a false or fictitious name in any application for an operator's or chauffeur's license, or knowingly making a false statement, or knowingly concealing a material fact, or otherwise committing a fraud in any such application, or willfully making a false statement to the division under any law relating to the ownership, application or renewal of a motor vehicle operator's or chauffeur's license;
(6) Conviction, or forfeiture of bail not vacated, upon two (2) charges of reckless driving committed within a period of twelve (12) months;
(7) Possession by a driver of five (5) or more grams of methamphetamine, as scheduled in § 39-17-408(d)(2) while operating a motor vehicle in this state. A motor vehicle is in operation if its engine is operating, whether or not the motor vehicle is moving; or
(8) Conviction of violating an out-of-service order and failure to pay a civil penalty assessed by the department under § 55-50-405 .
(b) In the event any final judgment for damages to property or personal injury resulting from the negligent operation of any motor vehicle is recovered, and in the event the final judgment is not fully paid, satisfied and discharged within sixty (60) days from the date the judgment becomes final, the department shall forthwith suspend the license of any chauffeur or operator of the motor vehicle against whom the judgment was rendered; and the license shall not be restored to the operator of the vehicle until the final judgment has been fully paid, discharged and satisfied.
(c) The commissioner shall revoke the license of any operator or chauffeur upon receiving the record of the operator's or chauffeur's conviction of the theft of a motor vehicle or any part thereof; and the commissioner shall not consider the convicted person's application for reinstatement for the revoked license until the expiration of the full term of the sentence imposed, whether served during actual imprisonment, probation, parole or suspension. It shall be grounds for the revocation of any such person's parole or probation if the person operates a motor vehicle while the person's license is in revocation pursuant to this subsection (c). It shall be within the discretion of the trial judge who imposed sentence upon the person convicted of the theft of the motor vehicle or any part thereof to reinstate the person's driver license after a reasonable time.
(d) The commissioner shall permanently revoke a school bus endorsement held by any operator or chauffeur upon receiving the record of such operator's or chauffeur's conviction for using a portable electronic device while operating a school bus, as prohibited by § 55-8-192 .
Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1036,s 2, eff. 7/1/2016.
Acts 1937, ch. 90, § 11; impl. am. Acts 1939, ch. 205, §§ 2, 3; Acts 1939, ch. 205, § 5; C. Supp. 1950, § 2715.19 (Williams, § 2715.24); Acts 1961, ch. 94, § 2; 1968, ch. 428, § 1; 1970, ch. 368, § 1; 1978, ch. 504, § 1; 1978, ch. 660, § 1; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 59-712; Acts 1986, ch. 842, §§ 1, 2; T.C.A., §§ 55-7-112 , 55-7-501; Acts 1998, ch. 1049, § 64; 2005, ch. 209, § 1; 2010, ch. 1005, §§ 1, 2; 2010, ch. 1037, § 10.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-8-183 — TN Code / Title 55 / Chapter 8 / Section 55-8-183
Funeral processions
Status: in_force

(a) Funeral processions properly identified by a flashing amber light on the lead vehicle, or identified as a police escort, where the vehicle has visual signals and is equipped with or displays an amber light accompanied by a blue light visible from the front of the vehicle, or led by a properly identified escort, shall have the right-of-way on any street, highway, or road through which they may pass, subject to the following provisions: (1) The operator of the leading vehicle in a funeral procession shall comply with stop signs and traffic-control signals, but when the leading vehicle has progressed across an intersection in accordance with that signal or after stopping as required by the stop sign, all vehicles of the procession may proceed without stopping regardless of the sign or signal when each of these vehicles has its headlights lighted; (2) Vehicles in a funeral procession shall drive on the right-hand side of the roadway and shall follow the vehicle ahead as close as is practical and safe; (3) Operators of vehicles in a funeral procession shall yield the right-of-way to an authorized emergency vehicle giving audible signal by siren and shall yield the right-of-way when directed to do so by a traffic officer; (4) On public highways and interstates, vehicles in a funeral procession shall proceed at a minimum speed of forty-five miles per hour (45 mph); and otherwise, on streets and roads at a speed not to exceed five miles per hour (5 mph) below the posted speed; (5) Vehicles following a funeral procession on a two-lane highway may not attempt to pass the procession; and (6) No operator of a vehicle shall drive between vehicles in a properly identified funeral procession except when directed to do so by a traffic officer. (b) Motorcycle escorts of properly identified funeral processions may: (1) Notwithstanding § 55-8-182(c) or any other law to the contrary, operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles; (2) Notwithstanding § 55-9-201 or any other law to the contrary, install a bell, siren, or exhaust whistle of a type approved by the sheriff of the county in which the motorcycle is to be operated; provided, that the system is deactivated at all times the motorcycle is not escorting a properly identified funeral procession; and (3) Notwithstanding § 55-9-402 or any other law to the contrary, install a green strobe flashing light system of a type approved by the sheriff of the county in which the motorcycle is to be operated; provided, that the system is deactivated at all times the motorcycle is not escorting a properly identified funeral procession. (c) (1) Unless complying with the specific order of a law enforcement officer, no operator of a motor vehicle shall knowingly: (A) Fail to yield the right-of-way to a properly identified funeral procession progressing across an intersection in accordance with subdivision (a)(1); (B) While following a properly identified funeral procession along a two-lane street, road or highway, pass or attempt to pass a properly identified funeral procession; or (C) Drive or attempt to drive between the vehicles within a properly identified funeral procession. (2) Each violation of subdivision (c)(1) is punishable by a civil penalty not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00). (3) For purposes of this subsection (c), to be a "properly identified" funeral procession, the procession must be indicated by a flashing amber light and a auditory signaling device mounted on the lead vehicle or by other properly identified escort, and a flag or other appropriate marking device on each vehicle in the procession indicating that the vehicle is part of the funeral procession. (4) Any county or municipality may adopt this subsection (c) for properly identified funeral processions within its jurisdiction by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the legislative body of that county or municipality. If a county or municipality adopts this subsection (c), the presiding officer of that legislative body shall proclaim and certify its adoption to the secretary of state. Acts 1978, ch. 498, § 1; T.C.A., § 59-884; Acts 1999, ch. 450, § 3; 2000, ch. 691, § 1; 2001, ch. 50, § 1; 2002, ch. 509, §§ 1, 2; 2003 , ch. 72, § 1; 2006, ch. 581, § 1.
(a) Funeral processions properly identified by a flashing amber light on the lead vehicle, or identified as a police escort, where the vehicle has visual signals and is equipped with or displays an amber light accompanied by a blue light visible from the front of the vehicle, or led by a properly identified escort, shall have the right-of-way on any street, highway, or road through which they may pass, subject to the following provisions: (1) The operator of the leading vehicle in a funeral procession shall comply with stop signs and traffic-control signals, but when the leading vehicle has progressed across an intersection in accordance with that signal or after stopping as required by the stop sign, all vehicles of the procession may proceed without stopping regardless of the sign or signal when each of these vehicles has its headlights lighted; (2) Vehicles in a funeral procession shall drive on the right-hand side of the roadway and shall follow the vehicle ahead as close as is practical and safe; (3) Operators of vehicles in a funeral procession shall yield the right-of-way to an authorized emergency vehicle giving audible signal by siren and shall yield the right-of-way when directed to do so by a traffic officer; (4) On public highways and interstates, vehicles in a funeral procession shall proceed at a minimum speed of forty-five miles per hour (45 mph); and otherwise, on streets and roads at a speed not to exceed five miles per hour (5 mph) below the posted speed; (5) Vehicles following a funeral procession on a two-lane highway may not attempt to pass the procession; and (6) No operator of a vehicle shall drive between vehicles in a properly identified funeral procession except when directed to do so by a traffic officer.
(1) The operator of the leading vehicle in a funeral procession shall comply with stop signs and traffic-control signals, but when the leading vehicle has progressed across an intersection in accordance with that signal or after stopping as required by the stop sign, all vehicles of the procession may proceed without stopping regardless of the sign or signal when each of these vehicles has its headlights lighted;
(2) Vehicles in a funeral procession shall drive on the right-hand side of the roadway and shall follow the vehicle ahead as close as is practical and safe;
(3) Operators of vehicles in a funeral procession shall yield the right-of-way to an authorized emergency vehicle giving audible signal by siren and shall yield the right-of-way when directed to do so by a traffic officer;
(4) On public highways and interstates, vehicles in a funeral procession shall proceed at a minimum speed of forty-five miles per hour (45 mph); and otherwise, on streets and roads at a speed not to exceed five miles per hour (5 mph) below the posted speed;
(5) Vehicles following a funeral procession on a two-lane highway may not attempt to pass the procession; and
(6) No operator of a vehicle shall drive between vehicles in a properly identified funeral procession except when directed to do so by a traffic officer.
(b) Motorcycle escorts of properly identified funeral processions may: (1) Notwithstanding § 55-8-182(c) or any other law to the contrary, operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles; (2) Notwithstanding § 55-9-201 or any other law to the contrary, install a bell, siren, or exhaust whistle of a type approved by the sheriff of the county in which the motorcycle is to be operated; provided, that the system is deactivated at all times the motorcycle is not escorting a properly identified funeral procession; and (3) Notwithstanding § 55-9-402 or any other law to the contrary, install a green strobe flashing light system of a type approved by the sheriff of the county in which the motorcycle is to be operated; provided, that the system is deactivated at all times the motorcycle is not escorting a properly identified funeral procession.
(1) Notwithstanding § 55-8-182(c) or any other law to the contrary, operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles;
(2) Notwithstanding § 55-9-201 or any other law to the contrary, install a bell, siren, or exhaust whistle of a type approved by the sheriff of the county in which the motorcycle is to be operated; provided, that the system is deactivated at all times the motorcycle is not escorting a properly identified funeral procession; and
(3) Notwithstanding § 55-9-402 or any other law to the contrary, install a green strobe flashing light system of a type approved by the sheriff of the county in which the motorcycle is to be operated; provided, that the system is deactivated at all times the motorcycle is not escorting a properly identified funeral procession.
(c) (1) Unless complying with the specific order of a law enforcement officer, no operator of a motor vehicle shall knowingly: (A) Fail to yield the right-of-way to a properly identified funeral procession progressing across an intersection in accordance with subdivision (a)(1); (B) While following a properly identified funeral procession along a two-lane street, road or highway, pass or attempt to pass a properly identified funeral procession; or (C) Drive or attempt to drive between the vehicles within a properly identified funeral procession. (2) Each violation of subdivision (c)(1) is punishable by a civil penalty not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00). (3) For purposes of this subsection (c), to be a "properly identified" funeral procession, the procession must be indicated by a flashing amber light and a auditory signaling device mounted on the lead vehicle or by other properly identified escort, and a flag or other appropriate marking device on each vehicle in the procession indicating that the vehicle is part of the funeral procession. (4) Any county or municipality may adopt this subsection (c) for properly identified funeral processions within its jurisdiction by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the legislative body of that county or municipality. If a county or municipality adopts this subsection (c), the presiding officer of that legislative body shall proclaim and certify its adoption to the secretary of state.
(1) Unless complying with the specific order of a law enforcement officer, no operator of a motor vehicle shall knowingly: (A) Fail to yield the right-of-way to a properly identified funeral procession progressing across an intersection in accordance with subdivision (a)(1); (B) While following a properly identified funeral procession along a two-lane street, road or highway, pass or attempt to pass a properly identified funeral procession; or (C) Drive or attempt to drive between the vehicles within a properly identified funeral procession.
(A) Fail to yield the right-of-way to a properly identified funeral procession progressing across an intersection in accordance with subdivision (a)(1);
(B) While following a properly identified funeral procession along a two-lane street, road or highway, pass or attempt to pass a properly identified funeral procession; or
(C) Drive or attempt to drive between the vehicles within a properly identified funeral procession.
(2) Each violation of subdivision (c)(1) is punishable by a civil penalty not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00).
(3) For purposes of this subsection (c), to be a "properly identified" funeral procession, the procession must be indicated by a flashing amber light and a auditory signaling device mounted on the lead vehicle or by other properly identified escort, and a flag or other appropriate marking device on each vehicle in the procession indicating that the vehicle is part of the funeral procession.
(4) Any county or municipality may adopt this subsection (c) for properly identified funeral processions within its jurisdiction by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the legislative body of that county or municipality. If a county or municipality adopts this subsection (c), the presiding officer of that legislative body shall proclaim and certify its adoption to the secretary of state.
Acts 1978, ch. 498, § 1; T.C.A., § 59-884; Acts 1999, ch. 450, § 3; 2000, ch. 691, § 1; 2001, ch. 50, § 1; 2002, ch. 509, §§ 1, 2; 2003 , ch. 72, § 1; 2006, ch. 581, § 1.