(a)

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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 4-8-203

  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Property: includes both personal and real property. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Year: means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(1) Any person found guilty of violation of the parking or traffic regulations promulgated under §§ 4-8-201 and 4-8-202 is subject to a civil penalty of ten dollars ($10.00) for the first offense, and twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for second and subsequent offenses during a one-year period.
(2) Any person who is found guilty of four (4) or more violations during a one-year period shall have any state-issued parking permit revoked for a period of one (1) year from the date of the last violation.
(3) This section shall also apply to parking violations in the state employee parking lots described in § 4-3-1105, and to parking on any other property under state control.
(4) Sections 4-8-201, 4-8-202 and this section shall not apply to tourists with out-of-state auto tags.
(b)

(1) The commissioner of safety, or the commissioner’s designee, shall conduct a hearing if the person charged with the violation so desires.
(2) The hearing date shall be posted on the citation issued, and will be no less than fifteen (15), nor more than thirty-five (35), calendar days from the date of issuance.
(3) Persons charged who do not desire a hearing may plead guilty to the charge by remitting the assessed civil penalty to the address on the citation.
(4) At each such hearing, the state shall have the burden of proving the subject vehicle was in violation of the parking or traffic regulations promulgated under §§ 4-8-201 and 4-8-202, and failure to carry such burden shall be cause for dismissal of the case.
(c) As provided in §§ 55-8-186 and evidence of ownership and that operation was for owner’s benefit – Exception for dealers’ loaner vehicles” class=”unlinked-ref” datatype=”S” sessionyear=”2021″ statecd=”TN” title=”55″>55-10-312, the proof of registration shall create the presumption the vehicle was operated by the owner or with the owner’s knowledge and consent. It is the responsibility of the registered owner of the vehicle to provide the commissioner with sworn evidence that the vehicle was not being used by the owner, and provide the name, address and driver license number of the person in control of the vehicle at the time of the violation. If the owner fails to provide such information, then the owner shall become personally liable for the violation.
(d)

(1) Failure of the person to appear on, or remit the civil penalty by, the hearing date shall result in notice being mailed to the address of the registered owner of the vehicle.
(2) The notice shall set forth a date for the owner to appear and present the information required in subsection (c).
(e)

(1) Failure of the registered owner, or the person who was in control of the vehicle on the date of the violation, to either appear for the scheduled hearing or remit the civil penalty shall cause the vehicle to be subject to immobilization.
(2) If the vehicle is again found in violation, the vehicle will be immobilized by the department until such time as all outstanding civil penalties are paid by the owner.
(f) It is the responsibility of the department to maintain records of all vehicles issued citations for violation of this chapter.
(g) Any person aggrieved by a decision of the commissioner, or the commissioner’s designee, may appeal in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in chapter 5 of this title.