TN Rider Laws

Road Safety Helmet

Required by law, as specified in Tennessee Code Annotated 55-9-302(a). (Effective July 1, 2005)

State Funded Rider Ed Available for all eligible applicants

Eye Protection Required by law unless equipped with windscreen

Daytime Use of Headlight Required by law-modulating headlight permitted

In TN the brake light modulator is also allowed as long as it does not flash longer than 5 secs when activated, and then go to steady red.  The tail light flasher is not legal in all 50 states.

Passenger Seat Required if carrying a passenger

Passenger Footrest Required if carrying a passenger

Passenger Age Restriction None

Helmet Speakers No Restrictions

Periodic Safety Inspection None

Mirror Left(L) Right(R) One required by law

Radar Detector No Restriction

Turn Signals Not Required

Muffler No acoustical criteria.

Maximum Sound Level No acoustical criteria.

State Insurance Requirements

Compulsory Liability (Minimum Limits)(25/50/10 or $60,000 single limit) - Financial responsibility required. 10% insurance discount effective for 3 years following completion of rider education program.

Handlebar Height No restriction - (Effective July 1, 2005)

Rider-Education Waiver Skill & Knowledge Test

Accept Motorcycle Endorsement From Other States Yes

Motorcycles operating two abreast in same lane

Yes. 55-8-182. Operation of motorcycles on laned roadways. (d) Motorcycles shall not be operated more than two (2) abreast in a single lane.

Lane Splitting

55-8-182. Operation of motorcycles on laned roadways (b) The operator of a motorcycle shall not overtake and pass in the same lane occupied by the vehicle being overtaken. (c) No person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles.

Off Road  Safety Helmet Required by law

Eye Protection Not Required

Minimum Operator Age No Restriction

Rider Education Certification Not Required

Operator License Not Required

Headlight Not Required

Taillight Not Required

Muffler Not Required

Maximum Sound Level No Limit

Spark Arrestor Not Required

Registration Required by law

Vehicle Title Required by law

Trails Program Not Available

Tennessee DUI Law Highlights: BAC Levels and Implied Consent (Table 1)

State

"Per Se" BAC Level

"Zero Tolerance" BAC Level

Enhanced Penalty BAC Level

"Implied Consent" Law

Tennessee

.08

.02

.20

Yes

DEFINITIONS:
"Per Se" Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Level
As of August 2005, all states have DUI laws that deem "per se intoxicated" any driver with a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) at or above .08 percent. This means that drivers with a BAC at or above .08 are intoxicated in the eyes of the law, and no additional proof of driving impairment is necessary. "Zero Tolerance" Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Level
All states carry "zero tolerance" laws that target drivers under the legal drinking age. These laws penalize persons under 21 for operating a vehicle with any trace of alcohol in their systems (a BAC above 0.0), or with negligible BAC levels such as .01 or .02 percent.

"Enhanced Penalty" Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Level
Many states impose harsher penalties on DUI offenders with a particularly high BAC at the time of the offense, typically .15 to .20 percent. DUI offenders with a BAC at or above their state's enhanced penalty standards will likely face additional jail time, harsher fines, and more severe driver's license sanctions.

"Implied Consent" Laws
"Implied consent" laws require vehicle drivers to submit to some form of chemical test, such as breath, blood, or urine testing, if suspected of DUI. If a driver refuses to submit to such testing, implied consent laws carry penalties such as mandatory