(a) Notwithstanding this chapter to the contrary, the department has oversight of the issuance, examination and renewal of all driver licenses provided for in this chapter. The department is authorized to contract for the provision of any service related to the issuance, examination and renewal of driver licenses subject to applicable contracting statutes and regulations. The commissioner has the discretion to solicit outside consulting services in order to accomplish on a competitive basis the design and application of the system and implementation of this system. Any entity so contracting with the department is authorized to charge an additional fee of four dollars ($4.00), which shall be retained by the entity for administrative costs.

Attorney's Note

Under the Tennessee Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
class A misdemeanorup to 11 monthsup to $2,500
For details, see Tenn. Code § 40-35-111
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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 55-50-331

  • Commissioner: means the commissioner of safety. See Tennessee Code 55-50-102
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Department: means the department of safety acting directly or through its duly authorized officers and agents. See Tennessee Code 55-50-102
  • Driver: means every person who drives or is in actual physical control of a motor vehicle upon a highway or who is exercising control over or steering a vehicle being towed by a motor vehicle. See Tennessee Code 55-50-102
  • Driver license: means a license issued by the department to an individual that authorizes the individual to operate a motor vehicle on the highways. See Tennessee Code 55-50-102
  • Full legal name: means an individual's first name, middle name or names and last name or surname, without use of initials or nicknames. See Tennessee Code 55-50-102
  • Motor vehicle: means a vehicle, low speed vehicle or medium speed vehicle as defined in this section, machine, tractor, trailer or semitrailer propelled or drawn by mechanical power used on highways or any other vehicle required to be registered under the laws of this state, but does not include any vehicle, machine, tractor, trailer or semitrailer operated exclusively on a rail. See Tennessee Code 55-50-102
  • Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
  • Person: means every natural person, firm, copartnership, association or corporation. See Tennessee Code 55-50-102
  • signed: includes a mark, the name being written near the mark and witnessed, or any other symbol or methodology executed or adopted by a party with intention to authenticate a writing or record, regardless of being witnessed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Street: means the entire width between boundary lines of every way when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
  • Temporary driver license: means a license issued by the department to an individual that authorizes the individual to operate a motor vehicle on the highways for the individual's authorized period of stay in the United States or, if there is no definite end to the period of authorized stay, a period of one (1) year. See Tennessee Code 55-50-102
  • United States: means the fifty (50) states and the District of Columbia. See Tennessee Code 55-50-102
  • Vehicle: means every device in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a public highway, excepting devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks. See Tennessee Code 55-50-102
  • Violation: means a conviction except as otherwise provided in §. See Tennessee Code 55-50-102
(b)

(1) The department shall, upon payment of the required fee, issue to every applicant qualifying therefor a driver license indicating the type or general class of vehicles the licensee may drive, which license shall bear thereon a distinguishing number assigned to the licensee, the full legal name, date of birth, current residence address including the street address and number or route and box number (or post office box number if the applicant has no bona fide residential street address), a brief description, a visible full face photograph of the licensee, and either a facsimile of the signature of the licensee or a space upon which the licensee shall write the licensee’s usual signature with pen and ink. No license shall be valid until it has been so signed by the licensee.
(2) The department shall not issue a driver license that displays an applicant’s social security number unless the applicant specifically requests in writing that the number be displayed on the license.
(3) The date of birth information on a driver license issued by the department must be plainly visible and the font size must be the same size as that of the driver license number.
(4)

(A) Any person who can provide proof that the person was a victim of identity theft, under § 39-14-150, may apply for the issuance of a new driver license with a new distinguishing number. The department shall issue the new driver license to the applicant and may charge a duplicate license fee, pursuant to § 55-50-323(a)(2)(I), to cover the cost of issuance.
(B) The proof required by subdivision (b)(4)(A) may be satisfied by presentation of a law enforcement report that lists the applicant as a victim of identity theft, under § 39-14-150.
(c) The license shall also display the issuance and expiration dates during which time the license is valid, and shall note whether the license is a duplicate of an original license.
(d) The department, upon issuing a license, shall have authority to impose restrictions suitable to the licensee’s driving ability with respect to the type of, or special, mechanical control devices required on a motor vehicle that the licensee may operate or other restrictions applicable to the licensee as the department may determine to be appropriate to assure the safe operation of a motor vehicle by the licensee.
(e) The department may either issue a special conditional license or may set forth the conditions upon the usual license form.
(f) It is a Class A misdemeanor for any person to operate a motor vehicle in any manner in violation of the conditions imposed by a conditional license issued to the person.
(g) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the department may issue a temporary driver license, temporary intermediate driver license, temporary photo identification license or a temporary learner permit to persons 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. The temporary driver license or photo identification license shall be valid only during the period of time of the applicant’s authorized stay in the United States; provided, however, that no temporary license or photo identification license shall be issued for a period of longer than eight (8) years.
(h) Any applicant applying for a temporary driver license, temporary intermediate driver license, temporary photo identification license or temporary learner permit, upon initial issuance, renewal or reinstatement, shall meet the requirements of this chapter and any rules and regulations promulgated by the department.
(i) Any nonphoto bearing driver license issued under §§ 55-50-323 and 55-50-335, and any nonexpiring photo identification license issued under §§ 55-50-323 and 55-50-336, shall be issued in compliance with the federal regulations of 6 C.F.R. part 37 for non-REAL ID compliant licenses.
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