(a) No person operating or occupying a motor vehicle on any public street, highway, alley, parking lot, or driveway shall operate or permit the operation of any sound amplification system including, but not limited to, any radio, tape player, compact disc player, loud speaker, or any other electrical device used for the amplification of sound from within the motor vehicle so that the sound is plainly audible at a distance of fifty feet (50′) or more from the vehicle. For the purpose of this section, “plainly audible” means any sound that clearly can be heard, by unimpaired auditory senses based on a direct line of sight of fifty feet (50′) or more; however, words or phrases need not be discernible and the sound shall include bass reverberation.

Attorney's Note

Under the Tennessee Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
class C misdemeanorup to 30 daysup to $50
For details, see Tenn. Code § 40-35-111
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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 55-8-193

  • Highway: means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way when any part thereto is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
  • Person: means a natural person, firm, copartnership, association, corporation, or an engaged ADS. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
  • 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
  • Vehicle: means every device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, excepting devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks. See Tennessee Code 55-8-101
(b) This section shall not be applicable to emergency or public safety vehicles, vehicles owned and operated by a municipal or county government or any utility company, for sound emitted unavoidably during a job-related operation, school or community sponsored activities, auctioneers or auctioning activities, boats or other watercraft operated on waters or any motor vehicle used in an authorized public activity for which a permit has been granted by the appropriate agency of a municipal or county government.
(c) A violation of this section is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine only of up to fifty dollars ($50.00).
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