Title 55, Motor and Other Vehicles

Chapter 8, parts 1-5 of this chapter and § 55-12-139 shall be so interpreted and construed as to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law of those states that enact them.

(a) In all actions for injury to persons and/or to property caused by the negligent operation or use of any automobile, auto truck, motorcycle, or other motor propelled vehicle within this state, proof of ownership of the vehicle shall be prima facie evidence that the vehicle at …

(a) Proof of the registration of the motor vehicle in the name of any person shall be prima facie evidence of ownership of the motor vehicle by the person in whose name the vehicle is registered; and the proof of registration shall likewise be prima facie evidence that the vehicl…

(a) The employer of any driver of a nonmotor vehicle who violates § 55-8-178, intentionally or through carelessness, is liable to an action for damages at the suit of anyone who, in person or property, sustains an injury thereby. (b) The person so offending, as well as that perso…

(1) If any person who is driving or in physical control of a twin trailer truck that contains hazardous waste, as defined in § 68-212-104, is adjudicated to have been at fault in a court of competent jurisdiction for an accident resulting in a spill of the hazardous waste, the em…

(a) Any municipality with a population of not less than one hundred sixty thousand (160,000) nor more than one hundred seventy thousand (170,000), according to the 1990 federal census or any subsequent federal census, by ordinance may levy a fee of up to seventy-five cents (75¢),…

Upon receiving written permission of the property owner or manager, a state, county or municipal law enforcement officer is authorized to go onto the premises of any shopping center, or office park, which is generally open to the public at-large in order to inspect any motor vehi…

Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, an officer of any state, county, or municipal law enforcement agency that is charged with the responsibility of enforcing traffic laws may also enforce traffic laws, issue citations for violations thereof and impose fines in accordan…

(1) It is unlawful for any person to drive or to be in physical control of any automobile or other motor driven vehicle on any of the public roads and highways of the state, or on any streets or alleys, or while on the premises of any shopping center, trailer park, or apartment h…

(a) (1) (A) Any person violating § 55-10-401, shall, upon conviction for the first offense, be sentenced to serve in the county jail or workhouse not less than forty-eight (48) consecutive hours nor more than eleven (11) months and twenty-nine (29) days.(B) Any person violating §…

(a) A person convicted for a violation of § 55-10-401, shall be fined as follows:(1) For a first offense, the person shall be fined not less than three hundred fifty dollars ($350) nor more than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500);(2) For a second offense, the person shall…

(a) (1) The court shall prohibit any person convicted of a violation of § 55-10-401 from driving a vehicle in this state for a period of:(A) One (1) year, if the conviction is a first offense;(B) Two (2) years for a second offense;(C) Six (6) years for a third offense; and(D) Eig…

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (c)(1), for the sole purpose of enhancing the punishment for a violation a person who is convicted of a violation of § 55-10-401 shall not be considered a repeat or multiple offender and subject to the penalties prescribed in this part if ten…

(a) A law enforcement officer who has probable cause to believe that the operator of a motor vehicle is driving while under the influence of any intoxicant, controlled substance, controlled substance analogue, drug, substance affecting the central nervous system, or combination t…

(a) If the court finds that the driver violated § 55-10-406, the driver is not considered as having committed a criminal offense; provided, however, that the court shall revoke the license of the driver for a period of:(1) (A) Except as provided in subdivision (a)(1)(B), one (1) …

(a) The procurement of a sample of a person's blood for the purpose of conducting a test to determine the alcohol content, drug content, or both, of the blood shall be considered valid if the sample was collected by a person qualified to do so, as listed in § 55-10-406(e)(2), or …

(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 rec…

(a) In addition to incarceration, fines and license ramifications the sentencing judge has the discretion to impose any conditions of probation which are reasonably related to the offense, but shall impose the following conditions:(1) (A) (i) Participation in an alcohol and drug …

(a) For the purpose of proving a violation of § 55-10-401(a)(1), evidence that there was, at the time alleged, eight-hundredths of one percent (0.08%) or more by weight of alcohol in the defendant's blood shall create a presumption that the defendant's ability to drive was suffic…

(a) A portion of any fine imposed upon a person for a violation of § 55-10-401, up to the maximum fine actually imposed, shall be returned to the sheriff of a county jail or to the chief administrative officer of a city jail for the purpose of reimbursing the sheriff or officer f…

(a) In addition to all other fines, fees, costs and punishments now prescribed by law, an ignition interlock fee of forty dollars ($40.00) shall be assessed for each violation of § 55-10-401, which occurred on or after July 1, 2010, and resulted in a conviction for such offense. …

(a) The vehicle used in the commission of a person's second or subsequent conviction of § 55-10-401, or the second or subsequent conviction of any combination of § 55-10-401, and a statute in any other state prohibiting driving under the influence of an intoxicant, is subject to …

(a) A person under twenty-one (21) years of age shall not drive or be in physical control of an automobile or other motor-driven vehicle while:(1) Under the influence of any intoxicant, marijuana, controlled substance, controlled substance analogue, drug, substance affecting the …

(a) (1) No driver shall consume any alcoholic beverage or beer or possess an open container of alcoholic beverage or beer while operating a motor vehicle in this state.(2) For purposes of this section:(A) “Open container” means any container containing alcoholic beverages or beer…

(a) (1) (A) A court may order the installation and use of an ignition interlock device for any conviction of § 55-10-401, if the driver's license is no longer suspended or revoked or the driver does not have a prior conviction as defined in § 55-10-405. The restriction may apply …

(a) From January 1, 2011, until June 30, 2012:(1) An ignition interlock provider shall not charge more than seventy dollars ($70.00) for installing one (1) ignition interlock device; and(2) An ignition interlock provider shall not charge more than a total of one hundred dollars (…

(a) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:(1) “Alternative device” means a transdermal monitoring device, other alternative alcohol or drug monitoring device, or global positioning monitoring device;(2) “Eligible costs” means the costs that may be paid fr…

(a) As used in this section:(1) “In writing” means either by written electronic communication or by written physical communication;(2) “Manufacturer” means an individual or entity responsible for the design, construction, or production of an ignition interlock device that has bee…

(a) Effective July 1, 2003, the offense of adult driving while impaired is repealed. (b) Nothing in the repeal of the offense of adult driving while impaired shall be construed to prohibit or prevent the use of any conviction for the offense occurring prior to July 1, 2003, for a…

A person whose license has been suspended pursuant to this part and who applies for a restricted license to operate only a motor vehicle that is equipped with a functioning ignition interlock device shall be required to pay a program development fee of eight dollars ($8.00). The …

All documents, records, identifying information, monitoring data or results and other information recorded, collected, maintained, transmitted or stored by an ignition interlock provider about or concerning an interlock program participant is confidential and not available for pu…

As used in this part, “transdermal monitoring device” means any device or instrument that is attached to the person, designed to automatically test the alcohol or drug content in a person by contact with the person's skin at least once per one-half (½) hour regardless of the pers…

(a) (1) Effective July 1, 2016, the authorized removal of any functioning ignition interlock device that is required by a court order, by statutory requirement, in the court's discretion, or at the defendant's request, must be compliance-based in accordance with this section.(2) …

(a) As used in this section, “contract service provider”:(1) Means a private entity that enters into a written contract or agreement with a government entity of this state to provide supervision of offenders using an electronic monitoring device; and(2) Does not include:(A) An ig…

(a) It is an offense for a person to knowingly provide a motor vehicle to another person who the provider of the vehicle knows or reasonably should know is under the influence of an intoxicant, marijuana, controlled substance, controlled substance analogue, drug, substance affect…

(a) (1) No later than September 1, 2024, the speaker of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives shall establish an advisory task force to review impaired driving and boating in Tennessee.(2) The task force shall be composed of twelve (12) members, six (6) membe…

The impaired driving advisory council (IDAC) of the Tennessee highway safety office shall submit to the members of the general assembly by December 1 each year all reports, strategic plans, or recommendations to reduce impaired driving in this state.

(a) For the purpose of proving a violation of § 55-10-401(1), evidence that the person was suspected to be impaired secondary to the sedative or otherwise intoxicating effects of a controlled substance, as defined in § 39-17-402, and was administered within twenty-four (24) hours…

(a) There is created the distance to drive program study committee to help determine the feasibility of implementing a distance to drive program that would facilitate reinstatement of suspended and revoked driver licenses for criminal defendants based on meeting the objectives se…

(1) As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires:(1) “Drag racing” means:(A) The use of any motor vehicle for the purpose of ascertaining the maximum speed obtainable by the vehicle;(B) The use of any motor vehicle for the purpose of ascertaining the highest obtain…

(a) Drag racing is a Class E felony, and any person who operates a motor vehicle upon the public highways of this state, or while on the premises of any shopping center, trailer park, any apartment house complex, or any other premises generally frequented by the public at large, …

(a) (1) In addition to the punishment prescribed in § 55-10-502, the department shall revoke, for a period of one (1) year, the driver license of any person or persons convicted of drag racing.(2) Notwithstanding subdivision (a)(1), the trial judge has the discretion to allow the…

A person whose driver license has been revoked or restricted due solely to the person's status as a motor vehicle habitual offender prior to July 1, 2019, may petition the court that originally made such a finding to reinstate the person's driver license. Upon receiving a petitio…

(a) When a person, younger than eighteen (18) years of age, but thirteen (13) years of age or older, commits any offense or engages in any prohibited conduct described in this subsection (a), then at the time the person is convicted of the offense, or adjudicated a delinquent chi…

(a) In addition to any other authority to suspend driving privileges under this chapter, the department of safety shall deny or suspend all driving privileges of any person upon receipt of an order of denial of driving privileges issued pursuant to § 55-10-701. The suspension sha…

If a court withdraws an order issued pursuant to § 55-10-701, the offender may obtain a certified copy of the order of withdrawal and present it, along with an application fee of twenty dollars ($20.00), to the department of safety, and the offender shall become eligible to recei…