(a) The commissioner of revenue or a county clerk shall not process an application for initial issuance of registration of a motor vehicle in which a license plate is issued until the applicant provides documentation, whether in paper or electronic format, that the applicant is:(1) A citizen of the United States;(2) A lawful permanent resident of the United States; or(3) A person whose presence in the United States has been authorized by the federal government for a specific purpose and for a specified period of authorized stay.
(1) A citizen of the United States;
(2) A lawful permanent resident of the United States; or
(3) A person whose presence in the United States has been authorized by the federal government for a specific purpose and for a specified period of authorized stay.
(b) (1) A REAL ID-compliant license, Tennessee driver license, Tennessee photo identification license, Tennessee temporary driver license, or Tennessee temporary photo identification license is deemed satisfactory proof under subsection (a).(2) The department shall publish on its website a list of acceptable forms of documentation and identification that may be provided or submitted with a registration application in accordance with this section.
(1) A REAL ID-compliant license, Tennessee driver license, Tennessee photo identification license, Tennessee temporary driver license, or Tennessee temporary photo identification license is deemed satisfactory proof under subsection (a).
(2) The department shall publish on its website a list of acceptable forms of documentation and identification that may be provided or submitted with a registration application in accordance with this section.
(c) For purposes of this section, acceptable electronic formats include display of electronic images on a cell phone or any other type of portable electronic device.
(d) An applicant applying for initial issuance of registration of a motor vehicle in which a license plate is issued and for whom the department or county clerk has recorded the required documentation pursuant to this section is deemed in compliance with this section unless otherwise required by law.
(e) Every registration and renewal of registration must be accompanied by the following notice:
THE OWNER AND/OR OPERATOR OF THIS VEHICLE IS REQUIRED TO BE A UNITED STATES CITIZEN, LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT, OR TEMPORARY LAWFUL RESIDENT PURSUANT TO TENNESSEE CODE ANNOTATED, § 55-4-144.
(f) If a dealer is appointed by a person to manage a registration transaction on the person's behalf pursuant to § 55-3-103 or another law, then the dealer must submit a copy of the person's documentation required pursuant to subsection (a) as part of the application in order for the application to be processed.