2023 Tennessee Code › Title 55 - MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES (§§ 55-1-101 — 55-53-105) › Chapter 4 - REGISTRATION AND LICENSING OF MOTOR VEHICLES (§§ 55-4-NEW — 55-4-702) › Part 3 - SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES - CONTINUED (§§ 55-4-301 — 55-4-399) › Section 55-4-321 - Law enforcement

(a)
(1)
An owner or lessee of a motor vehicle who is a resident of this state and who is a current member of the Tennessee Sheriffs' Association, 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 Tennessee Sheriffs' Association new specialty earmarked license plate for a motor vehicle authorized by §
55-4-210(c)
.
(2)
(A)
The application for a Tennessee Sheriffs' Association new specialty earmarked plate must be accompanied by the current year's membership card from the Tennessee Sheriffs' Association, certifying the applicant to be a member of the organization. If renewed by mail, the renewal must be accompanied by a copy of the member's current year Tennessee Sheriffs' Association membership card.
(B)
Only paid sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, sheriff's office employees, and their spouses; retired sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, sheriff's office employees in good standing, and their spouses; and Tennessee Sheriffs' Association employees and their spouses who are members of the Tennessee Sheriffs' Association are permitted to receive the license plates.
(3)
The new specialty earmarked plates provided for in this subsection (a) must bear the inscription "TENNESSEE SHERIFFS' ASSOCIATION" or "TSA" and an appropriate standardized insignia of the organization.
(4)
(A)
Within thirty (30) days of terminating membership or eligibility for membership in the Tennessee Sheriffs' Association, an applicant to whom a registration plate has been issued pursuant to this subsection (a) shall surrender the plate to the county clerk of the county of the applicant's residence.
(B)
The Tennessee Sheriffs' Association shall provide biannually to the department the names and addresses of persons who have terminated their membership in the Tennessee Sheriffs' Association, together with any other identifying information as the commissioner may require.
(C)
The Tennessee Sheriffs' Association shall provide quarterly to each sheriff's office a list of current plate holders for verification of employment, retiree in good standing, and spouses.
(5)
Subject to the requirements of §
55-4-202
, the commissioner is authorized and shall issue a license plate to an owner or lessee of a motorcycle who is otherwise eligible for a Tennessee Sheriffs' Association plate; provided, however, that the owner or lessee shall comply with the state motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motorcycles and pay the regular fee applicable to motorcycles and the applicable fee specified in §
55-4-204
prior to the issuance of the plate.
(6)
Funds produced from the sale of Tennessee Sheriffs' Association new specialty earmarked license plates must be allocated to the Tennessee Sheriffs' Association Charitable Foundations in accordance with §
55-4-301
.
(7)
For the purposes of §
55-4-202(g)(1)
, all license plates authorized or issued pursuant to subdivisions (a)(1) and (5) must be jointly included in any determinations for initial issuance and continuation of issuance.
(b)
(1)
An owner or lessee of a motor vehicle who is a resident of this state and who is certified as a member or associate member of the Fraternal Order of Police, 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 Fraternal Order of Police new specialty earmarked license plate for a motor vehicle authorized by §
55-4-210(c)
.
(2)
(A)
The application for a Fraternal Order of Police new specialty earmarked plate must be accompanied by a copy of an active membership card or a statement from the Fraternal Order of Police certifying the applicant to be a member or associate member of the organization.
(B)
Only members and associate members of the Fraternal Order of Police or their spouses are permitted to receive the license plates.
(3)
(A)
The new specialty earmarked plates provided for in this subsection (b) must bear the inscription "FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE" or "FOP" and an appropriate standardized insignia of the organization.
(B)
For applicants who are associate members of the Fraternal Order of Police, the strip along the bottom of the license plate must also bear the language "ASSOCIATE MEMBER."
(4)
(A)
Within thirty (30) days of terminating membership or associate membership in the Fraternal Order of Police, an applicant to whom a registration plate has been issued pursuant to this subsection (b) shall surrender the plate to the county clerk of the county of the applicant's residence.
(B)
The Fraternal Order of Police shall provide biannually to the department the names and addresses of any persons who have terminated their membership or associate membership in the Fraternal Order of Police, together with any other identifying information as the commissioner may require.
(5)
The commissioner is authorized and shall issue a registration plate to an owner or lessee of a motorcycle who is otherwise eligible for a Fraternal Order of Police plate; provided, however, that the owner or lessee shall comply with the state motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motorcycles and shall pay the regular fee applicable to motorcycles and the applicable fee specified in §
55-4-204
prior to the issuance of the plate.
(6)
Funds produced from the sale of Fraternal Order of Police specialty earmarked license plates must be allocated to the Tennessee Fraternal Order of Police Charitable Foundation in accordance with §
55-4-301
.
(7)
Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a person who was issued a Fraternal Order of Police specialty earmarked license plate prior to July 1, 2011, is entitled to retain the plate for vehicular use upon compliance with all motor vehicle laws relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles and payment of all required fees. License plates described under this subdivision (b)(7) must continue to be considered Fraternal Order of Police specialty earmarked plates upon the applicant's designation.
(8)
For the purposes of §
55-4-202(g)(1)
, all license plates authorized or issued pursuant to subdivisions (a)(1), (5), and (7) must be jointly included in any determinations for initial issuance and continuation of issuance. If Fraternal Order of Police new specialty earmarked plates are subsequently deemed obsolete pursuant to §
55-4-202(g)(1)
, then that determination also applies to all Fraternal Order of Police license plates issued prior to July 1, 2011.
(c)
(1)
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 an Honoring Law Enforcement new specialty earmarked license plate for a motor vehicle authorized by §
55-4-210(c)
.
(2)
The new specialty earmarked plates provided for in this subsection (c) must be designed in consultation with a representative of Middle and East Tennessee Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS), Inc.
(3)
The funds produced from the sale of Honoring Law Enforcement new specialty earmarked license plates must be allocated to Middle and East Tennessee Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS), Inc., in accordance with §
55-4-301
. The funds must be used exclusively to assist with the organization's mission to provide emotional and financial support as well as legal assistance to surviving families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.
(4)
Notwithstanding §
55-4-202(k)(1)
, the Honoring Law Enforcement new specialty earmarked license plate authorized pursuant to this subsection (c) has until July 1, 2024, to meet the applicable minimum issuance requirements of §
55-4-202(k)(1)
.
(d)
[Obsolete. See Compiler's Notes.]
Added by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 250, s 1, eff. 7/1/2023.