2023 Tennessee Code › Title 55 - MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES (§§ 55-1-101 — 55-53-105) › Chapter 10 - ACCIDENTS, ARRESTS, CRIMES AND PENALTIES (§§ 55-10-101 — 55-10-804) › Part 4 - ALCOHOL AND DRUG RELATED OFFENSES (§§ 55-10-NEW — 55-10-427) › Section 55-10-409 - Restricted driver license - Ignition interlock device - Geographic restrictions

(a)
Notwithstanding any of this part to the contrary, a person whose license has been suspended by the court pursuant to §
55-10-404
is not eligible for, and the court shall not have the authority to grant or order, the issuance of a restricted driver license if, based on the record of the department, the person:
(1)
Has a prior conviction for the offense of vehicular assault under §
39-13-106
, aggravated vehicular assault under §
39-13-115
, vehicular homicide under §
39-13-213(a)(2)
, or aggravated vehicular homicide under §
39-13-218
in this state or a similar offense in another state; or
(2)
Seriously injured or killed another person in the course of the conduct that resulted in the driver's conviction under §
55-10-401
or a similar offense in another state. A driver who has committed such an offense shall not be eligible for and the court shall not have the authority to grant the issuance of a restricted motor vehicle operator's license until such time as the period of suspension mandated by §
55-10-404
has expired, notwithstanding the fact that it may be the driver's first conviction.
(b)
(1)
(A)
(i)
Except as provided in subsection (a), if a person's motor vehicle operator's license has been revoked pursuant to §
55-10-404
or §
55-10-406
, the person may apply to the trial judge or a judge of any court in the person's county of residence having jurisdiction to try charges for driving under the influence for a restricted driver license.
(ii)
If the person's present conviction for driving under the influence of an intoxicant is an offense for which subdivision (b)(2)(B) requires the court to order the person to operate only a motor vehicle that is equipped with a functioning ignition interlock device, the court may order the issuance of a restricted motor vehicle operator's license subject to such limitations. The court shall have discretion to order additional limitations, including but not limited to geographic restrictions as provided in subsection (c), on the restricted motor vehicle license.
(iii)
If the person's violation of §
55-10-406
or present conviction for driving under the influence of an intoxicant is not an offense for which subdivision (b)(2)(B) requires the court to order the person to operate only a motor vehicle that is equipped with a functioning ignition interlock device, the court may order the issuance of a restricted motor vehicle operator's license. The court shall have discretion to order the person to operate only a motor vehicle that is equipped with a functioning ignition interlock device or place additional limitations on the person's restricted license; provided, however, that a restricted license issued pursuant to this subdivision (b)(1)(A)(iii) without an ignition interlock requirement shall be subject to geographic restrictions as provided in subsection (c).
(B)
(i)
A Tennessee resident, whose operator's license has been revoked because of a conviction in another jurisdiction for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant, may apply for a restricted license to a judge of any court in the person's county of residence having jurisdiction to try charges for driving under the influence. The court may order the issuance of a restricted motor vehicle operator's license. The court shall have discretion to order the person to operate only a motor vehicle that is equipped with a functioning ignition interlock device or place additional limitations on the person's restricted license; provided, however, that a restricted license issued pursuant to this subdivision (b)(1)(B)(i) without an ignition interlock requirement shall be subject to geographic restrictions as provided in subsection (c). If the person has a prior conviction within the past ten (10) years for a violation of §
55-10-401
or §
55-10-421
, in this state or a similar offense in any other jurisdiction, the court shall be required to order the person to operate only a motor vehicle that is equipped with a functioning ignition interlock device.
(ii)
If a copy of the judgment of conviction certified by the court that tried the case in the other jurisdiction accompanies the restricted license application, the court may issue such order allowing the person so convicted to operate a motor vehicle including such restrictions ordered by the court that tried the case in the other jurisdiction provided such restrictions do not conflict with Tennessee statutes or regulations.
(C)
A person ordered to operate only a motor vehicle that is equipped with a functioning ignition interlock device pursuant to this subsection (b) may apply for assistance to meet the requirement pursuant to §
55-10-419
, except as provided in subdivision (b)(2)(C).
(2)
(A)
Upon application by a person who is not prohibited from having a restricted license under subsection (a), the judge of the court may order the issuance of a restricted license in accordance with §
55-50-502(c)
allowing the person to operate a motor vehicle for the limited purposes set forth in subdivision (c)(1).
(B)
If the judge approves the restricted license application of a person who is not prohibited from having a restricted license under subsection (a), the judge shall also order the person to install and keep a functioning ignition interlock device as a condition of probation if, at the time of the offense:
(i)
The person was convicted of a violation of §
55-10-401
and had a blood or breath alcohol concentration of eight hundredths of one percent (0.08%) or higher or a combination of alcohol in any amount and marijuana, a controlled substance, controlled substance analogue, drug, or any substance affecting the central nervous system;
(ii)
The person was convicted of §
55-10-401
and was accompanied by a person under eighteen (18) years of age;
(iii)
The person was involved in a traffic accident for which notice to a law enforcement officer is required under §
55-10-107
, and the accident is the proximate result of the person's intoxication; or
(iv)
The person violated the implied consent law under §
55-10-406
, and has a conviction or juvenile delinquency adjudication for a violation that occurred within five (5) years of the instant implied consent violation, for:
(a)
Implied consent under §
55-10-406
;
(b)
Underage driving while impaired under §
55-10-415
;
(c)
The open container law under §
55-10-416
;
(d)
Reckless driving under §
55-10-205
, if the charged offense was §
55-10-401
;
(e)
Reckless endangerment under §
39-13-103
, if the charged offense was driving under the influence under §
55-10-401
; or
(f)
Driving under the influence under §
55-10-401
.
(C)
A person convicted of §
55-10-401
, who is eligible for a restricted license under subsection (a) and who is not required to have an interlock device pursuant to subdivision (b)(2) or other section, may request the court order the installation and use of an ignition interlock in lieu of geographic restrictions or additional limitations on the restricted license. The person shall pay all costs associated with the device and is not eligible for electronic monitoring indigency fund assistance under §
55-10-419
.
(D)
A court may also order a person whose license has been suspended pursuant to §
55-10-407
to operate only a motor vehicle that is equipped with a functioning ignition interlock with or without geographic restrictions which shall remain on the vehicle during the entire period of the restricted license. A person ordered to operate only a motor vehicle that is equipped with a functioning ignition interlock device pursuant to this subdivision (b)(2)(D) may apply for assistance to meet the requirement pursuant to §
55-10-419
.
(c)
(1)
If a court issues an order allowing a person to operate a motor vehicle with geographic restrictions, the court shall specify the necessary time and places of permissible operation of a motor vehicle, for the limited purposes of going to and from:
(A)
And working at the person's regular place of employment;
(B)
The office of the person's probation officer or other similar location for the sole purpose of attending a regularly scheduled meeting or other function with the probation officer by a route to be designated by the probation officer;
(C)
A court-ordered alcohol safety program;
(D)
A college or university in the case of a student enrolled full time in the college or university;
(E)
A scheduled interlock monitoring appointment;
(F)
A court ordered outpatient alcohol and drug treatment program;
(G)
The person's regular place of worship for regularly scheduled religious services conducted by a bona fide religious institution as defined in §
48-101-502(c)
; and
(H)
Medical treatment of the person or an immediate family member or provision of care for the person or an immediate family member suffering from a serious illness.
(2)
A court order issued under subsection (b) may be presented within ten (10) days after the date of issuance to the department, accompanied by a fee of sixty-five dollars ($65.00) and proof to the satisfaction of the department that a functioning ignition interlock device has been installed and will be maintained on one (1) or more vehicles to be operated by the person for the duration of the restricted license, if such installation and maintenance is required by subdivision (b)(2)(B) or the court's order. If the person has first successfully completed a driver license examination, the department shall forthwith issue a restricted license specifying that such restricted license authorizes the person to operate only noncommercial vehicles equipped with a functioning ignition interlock device, if required, and embodying additional limitations imposed by the court upon the person.
(3)
If the violation resulting in the person's conviction for driving under the influence or the person's violation of §
55-10-406
occurred prior to July 1, 2013, the law in effect when the violation occurred shall govern the person's eligibility for a restricted motor vehicle operator license unless the person petitions the court to consider the person's eligibility under the law in effect when the petition is filed.
(d)
(1)
Unless otherwise prohibited by subsection (a), the trial judge or a judge of any court in the person's county of residence having jurisdiction to try charges for driving under the influence may order the issuance of a restricted motor vehicle operator's license in accordance with §
55-50-502
to any person whose motor vehicle operator's license has been revoked pursuant to §
55-10-404
and who has a prior conviction within the past ten (10) years for a violation of §
55-10-401
or §
55-10-421
, in this state or a similar offense in any other jurisdiction.
(2)
(A)
If the court orders the issuance of a restricted motor vehicle operator's license pursuant to this subsection (d), the court shall also order the person to operate only a motor vehicle that is equipped with a functioning ignition interlock device. The restriction shall be for the entire period of the restricted license.
(B)
Sections
55-10-417
,
55-10-418
and
55-10-419
shall apply when a person is ordered to operate only a motor vehicle that is equipped with a functioning ignition interlock device pursuant to this subsection (d).
(e)
If a person is required by court order issued pursuant to this section, whether issued due to statutory requirement, in the court's discretion, or at the defendant's request, to operate only a motor vehicle that is equipped with a functioning ignition interlock device, and the offense for which the ignition interlock device is ordered occurs on or after July 1, 2016, the compliance-based provisions of §
55-10-425
shall govern the required periods of continuous operation, default interlock orders, authorized removal of the device, and other enforcement aspects of the court's order set out in §
55-10-425
.
Amended by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 964, Secs.s2, s3 eff. 7/1/2022.
Amended by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 964, s 1, eff. 1/1/2023.
Amended by 2016EX2 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1, s 2, eff. 9/19/2016.
Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1088, s 2, eff. 9/19/2016.
Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1030, s 2, eff. 7/1/2016.
Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 888, s 2, eff. 7/1/2016.
Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 993, s 4, eff. 7/1/2016.
Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 876, s 8, eff. 7/1/2016.
Amended by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 587, Secs.s 1, s 2 eff. 7/1/2014.
Amended by 2013 Tenn. Acts, ch. 344, s 9, eff. 5/13/2013.
Amended by 2013 Tenn. Acts, ch. 154, s 9, eff. 7/1/2013.
Acts 1969, ch. 292, § 5; T.C.A., § 59-1048.