State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > Tennessee > Title-55 > Chapter-50 > Part-3 > 55-50-301

55-50-301. License required Requirements Exception. Applicability to temporary licenses and permits.

(a) Every person applying for an original or renewal driver license shall be required to comply with and be issued a classified driver license meeting the following requirements:

(1) No person, except those expressly exempted in this section, shall drive any motor vehicle upon a highway in this state unless the person has a valid driver license under the provisions of this chapter for the type or class of vehicle being driven;

(2) No person, except those expressly exempted in this section, shall steer or, while within the passenger compartment of the vehicle, exercise any degree of physical control of a vehicle being towed by a motor vehicle upon a highway in this state unless the person has a valid driver license under this chapter for the type or class of vehicle being towed;

(3) No person shall receive a driver license unless and until the person surrenders to the department all valid licenses in the person's possession, issued to that person by this or any other jurisdiction. All surrendered licenses issued by another jurisdiction shall be returned, together with information that the person is licensed in this state. No person shall be permitted to have more than one (1) valid driver license at any time; and

(4) Any person licensed as a driver may exercise the privilege granted upon all streets and highways in this state and shall not be required to obtain any other license to exercise the privilege by any county, municipal or local board, or body having authority to adopt local police regulations.

(5) A Class M license shall not be required for the operation of enclosed motorcycles that weigh less than one thousand five hundred pounds (1,500 lbs.).

(b) This section is applicable to the issuance of temporary driver licenses and permits.

[Acts 1937, ch. 90, § 3; C. Supp. 1950, § 2715.11 (Williams, § 2715.16); Acts 1955, ch. 114, § 2; 1957, ch. 199, §§ 1, 2; 1957, ch. 209, § 1; 1959, ch. 272, § 1; 1967, ch. 238, § 1; impl. am. Acts 1971, ch. 162, § 3; Acts 1972, ch. 467, § 1; 1974, ch. 444, §§ 1, 2; 1975, ch. 82, § 1; 1976, ch. 841, § 1; 1977, ch. 90, § 1; 1977, ch. 189, § 2; 1978, ch. 643, §§ 1, 2; 1979, ch. 247, §§ 5, 8; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 59-704; Acts 1986, ch. 804, § 7; 1987, ch. 446, § 11; 1988, ch. 584, § 4; T.C.A., §§ 55-7-104, 55-7-301; Acts 2000, ch. 606, § 6; 2007, ch. 194, § 5.]